da poker： Transfer rumours have been flying into Football Fancast Towers thick and fast and from every direction throughout the summer, and they’ve now gone into overdrive with just days of the transfer window remaining.
da bet7k： So thick and fast in fact, that we’re struggling to keep track of them all. You probably are too, and thus we thought it would be a good idea to compile all the rumours regarding the Premier League’s top clubs into one easily accessible place, trimmed down into digestible chunks with a simple-yet-effective ‘Three In, Three Out’ format.
This article focuses on Manchester United and their biggest transfer stories from the last week; some incoming, some outgoing, but all with the potential to be completed before the transfer window slams shut on 6pm September 1st.
So are the Red Devils on the verge of snapping up some title-winning talent? Who’s set for a last-minute exit from Old Trafford? Read on the find out!
OUT – DAVID DE GEA
It’s been a long and arduous summer of will-he-wont-he for David De Gea, the Spain international’s much-awaited move to Real Madrid seemingly inevitable yet still to materialise with just days of the summer transfer window remaining.
Indeed, the Red Devils won’t have much time to source a replacement for their 2015 Player of the Year shot-stopping extraordinaire but they’re also not in a position to be rejecting sizable bids, with his contract set to expire at the end of the season.
Louis van Gaal already appears to be preparing for life without him, excluding the 24 year-old from all of his match-day squads so far this season.
That might be because he’s expected this week’s news from some time; per The Daily Mail, a final take-it-or-leave-it £33million bid from the former European champions. According to Mirror Football, De Gea’s camp are growing increasingly confident that a deal will be struck before the transfer window slams shut.
IN – NEYMAR
Perhaps the most audacious rumour of the summer transfer window thus far. According to reports from last weekend, Manchester United have prepared a £165million bid for Barcelona star Neymar.
It goes without saying that the miniscule winger-forward is one of the leading talents in world football, boasting 44 goals for Brazil, a Champions League title, an instrumental role in the Barcelona starting Xi, the 2011 Puskas award, consecutive South American Footballer of the Year awards and a CL Golden Boot at the tender age of just 23.
United allegedly want to make him the new face of the club’s global brand and of course, the shining star of their starting Xi – even surpassing captain Wayne Rooney.
Certainly an enticing offer for Neymar as an individual – especially amid long-term concerns that he’ll always inevitably be overshadowed by Lionel Messi at the Nou Camp – but the Catalans have made it clear they aren’t interested in selling the former Santos prodigy so late in the transfer window. In fact, they’re now planning to offer him a five-year contract to snub out the Red Devils’ interest before it grows further.
So an arrival before September 1st seems incredibly unlikely. But something tells me reports linking Neymar with an Old Trafford switch will become commonplace over the next few years.
OUT – VICTOR VALES
David De Gea is by no means the only Manchester United goalkeeper expected to head out of the Old Trafford exit door by 6pm on September 1st.
Indeed, Louis van Gaal made his feelings regarding Victor Valdes known some time ago, revealing in July his intentions to sell the former Barcelona No.1 after his apparent refusal to represent the Red Devils’ U21 squad last season.
The 33 year-old arrived at Carrington on a free transfer midway through last season and that seems to be the manner in which he’ll also leave. According to Mirror Football, he’s expected to join Besiktas for no fee within the next few days.
IN – ALEKSANDR KOKORIN
One rumoured forward target certainly more within Manchester United’s reach than Neymar comes in the form of Dynamo Moscow star Aleksandr Kokorin.
The 24 year-old is hardly a household name but comes highly rated, boasting 45 goals in 193 appearances for the Russian outfit – 28 of which have come in his last 71 league outings. He was also the Russian national team’s stand-out star at last summer’s World Cup, scoring in a 1-1 draw against Algeria and providing some much-need pace going forward.
Agent Cyril Loginov declared earlier this week; “Right now I’m working on Kokorin’s transfer. United and Tottenham are interested in his services. There are many reasons to think that it will [happen] in one of two teams before August 31.”
It’s believed United could snap up Kokorin for around £8million due to his contract expiring at the end of the season. But also in desperate need of added firepower before the transfer window slams shut, Arsenal are targeting the 6 foot forward as well.
OUT – JONNY EVANS
The Red Devils may be short on top quality at the heart of defence but that doesn’t appear to have affected Jonny Evans’ status as surplus to requirements.
Indeed, the Northern Ireland international managed just 14 Premier League appearances under Louis van Gaal last season – his second-worst campaign haul since becoming a United regular in 2008 – and he’s now seemingly at the bottom of a pecking order that includes Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind.
With his contract expiring at the end of next season, Manchester United look set to sell before the transfer window draws to a close. Everton have been mooted as potential suitors, should they require a last-minute replacement for John Stones, but reports this week suggest he’s much closer to joining West Bromwich Albion in a £10million move.
IN – FELIPE ANDERSON
A final rumour from yesterday evening courtesy of The Express. The British tabloid claim Manchester United will launch a £32.8million bid for Lazio’s Felipe Anderson before the end of the transfer window.
The Brazil international has emerged as one of the most exciting talents in Serie A over the last 18 months or so, last term finishing up with ten goals and seven assists in just 23 league starts whilst averaging the third-most dribbles per match (3.3) of an player in the division.
He’s also a fantastically hard worker, averaging 1.9 tackles per match, and renowned for his versatility, having featured on both flanks, in central midfield and at centre-forward for the Stadio Olpymico outfit last season.
The 22 year-old has been mooted as a potential alternative to former Barcelona star Pedro, now of Chelsea, and although Anderson ruled out a move earlier in the summer United see now as the perfect time to buy, following Lazio’s failure to escape the Champions League’s play-off round.
Whether that’s enough to force Lazio into selling a player under contract until 2020, however, remains to be seen.