Manchester United have again dominated the transfer columns of the tabloids and broadsheets as they look to flex their vast financial muscle and take the club to the next level.
United have already stated that they expect to do more business over the summer after the early capture of Memphis Depay. Flush with the adidas deal that will reward them further with Champions League exposure we expect most of the following deals to be done over the course of the coming months.
1- Nicolas Otamendi
His agent has already confirmed that his player wants to leave Valencia but there does seem to be a lot of work yet to do to get the player to Old Trafford.
The 27-year-old central defender joined Valencia from Porto in 2014 on a five-year deal worth 12 million euros and that spell included an immediate loan spell with Atletico Mineiro in Brazil. Despite that disruptive start to his Valencia stay Otamendi has gone on to make 35 appearances and scored six goals. A full Argentinian international , the player has earned 19 caps for his nation.
Cost: £36million
2- Hugo Lloris
With David De Gea looking more likely than not to head back home to Spain the candidates are lining up to replace him at Old Trafford. With such names as Petr Cech in the frame it seems certain that United will want a mix of experience and talent. The 28-year-old France international captain fits the bill for Van Gaal it seems and is the favourite to take over from David de Gea between the sticks this summer.
The Spurs keeper joined the Premier League club from Lyon in 2012 where he has gone on to make 99 appearances. The lure of Manchester United and Champions League football should they get through the qualification will be a difficult one for the player to resist.
Cost: £30million
3- Ilkay Gundogan
The Dortmund star seems likely to be announced as a United player fairly imminently and unlike his Dortmund captain has no issue with leaving his present employers. The central midfielder has earned numerous plaudits for his strengths which include intelligence and tactical discipline in possession, passing, dribbling and finishing.
Gundogan joined Dortmund from Nurnberg in 2011 and has gone on to win the Bundesliga title and be a Champions League runner-up. Gundogan scored the equalizer from the penalty spot in the 2013 Champions League final but Bayern of course went on to win 2-1 at Wembley.
Cost: £21million
4- Bastian Schweinsteiger
According to recent reports Bastian Schweinsteiger is Louis van Gaal’s number one target and with reports today suggesting that Bayern Munich are looking at Sergio Busquets to replace Schweinsteiger it seems this transfer could actually happen.
The 30-year-old midfielder would bring great experience to van Gaal’s 2015-2016 campaign and whilst he clearly does not represent a long-term vision van Gaal believes he needs a mix of youth and experience moving forward.
The midfielder has remained coy on any possible move from Bayern Munich.
"I am under contract until 2016," he told ESPN last month. "I won't comment on it."
Schweinsteiger has been a Bayern Munich player since joining as a youth in 1998. The German captain has made 342 league appearances for the club, scoring 45 Bundesliga goals.
Cost: ?
5- Gareth Bale
United have already had a cheeky bid for Bale and Varane for a reported combined fee of £110million rejected by Real Madrid and it remains to be seen if Rafa Benitez will seek to sell Bale or stick by him in his first season in charge. The player has had a difficult season and the most expensive player in the world that David Moyes was ‘Desperate’ to sign from Tottenham could yet be playing at Old Trafford if the price is right.
Cost: £80million
Source: DSG
