Hello and welcome to the Manchester United transfer roundup for the day! If there is any song that could be associated with the Red Devils’ transfer market rumour mill, it should be Ozzy Osbourne’s Crazy Train.
The Old Trafford outfit are always linked to the best players in the world and for the most extravagantly touted amounts. It is like riding on a crazy train with no end. So, as Osbourne says: ALL ABOOOOOOOARD!
#5 Bale and Foster
The most pleasant thing about summer transfer window is the overdrawn transfer sagas and the limitless subtle sadism embedded in it. Oh wait, that is actually the worst part about the transfer market.
Ever since Gareth Bale admitted that he needs to play more football – be it at Real Madrid or some other club – the Welshman has been incessantly linked with a move back to the Premier League with his former club Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United interested in him.
On top of that, Real Madrid have had a managerial change as Zinedine Zidane quit the club after winning his third consecutive Champions League title with the Galacticos.
With the arrival of Julen Lopetegui as his replacement, Bale is now going to be coached by someone who prefers tactically intelligent players – at least that is what Sky Sports’ Rik Sharma believes.
“Bale will be one of the losers,” Sharma said. “Ultimately, with Spain, he (Lopetegui) has always opted for more tactically intelligent than gifted players. The winners will be Isco and Asensio. He has made Isco the key player in the Spain team. It wouldn’t make any sense for him not to do that at Real Madrid. It will be an easy win for the new manager.”
Meanwhile, despite the fact that they already have David De Gea and the highly talented Dean Henderson, who has been loaned out of the club to gain valuable experience, Manchester United are eying West Brom’s Ben Foster as a possible second-choice goalkeeper for next season.
They, however, are set to fail in his pursuit since the shotstopper wants to play every week – something that he won’t be able to do at the Old Trafford – according to The Sun.
#4 United’s targets
For a long time now, the Red Devils have been touted to move for a left-back with Alex Sandro being the most prominent player linked to them. However, it seems as though the Old Trafford outfit have moved their sights elsewhere.
According to Mirror, Manchester United are now targeting Jose Luis Gaya of Valencia after being priced out of a deal by Juventus for the Brazilian left-back. The Spaniard could cost in the region of £30 million, which is less than the £50 million valuations of Juve over Sandro.
Meanwhile, Manchester Evening News have made a list of attacking players that Manchester United want to sign. The four names include Gareth Bale, Willian, Mario Mandzukic and Marko Arnautovic.
#3 Martial and Ronaldo
Another saga relating to Manchester United is that one of Anthony Martial, whose agent openly revealed that his client wants out of the club. While Tottenham were initially the favourites to land him, it seems as though the tides have changed.
According to Get French Football News, who credit their “colleagues” at Paris United, the Frenchman is in advanced negotiation with Juventus over a possible move that could cost the Old Lady around €86 million.
Meanwhile, Neymar has apparently informed Messi of Cristiano Ronaldo’s next destination because it is clear that the Argentine is more interested in his contemporary’s next destination than Argentina’s World Cup hopes.
According to Don Balon, Cristiano Ronaldo is very close to signing for Manchester United in the summer – and Neymar knows this because Perez informed him about it.
#2 Kroos wanted
After enduring a torrid first half against Sweden, where his mistake allowed the Swedes to take the lead, Toni Kroos scored a brilliant 94th-minute goal to give Germany the win and a lifeline in the World Cup.
His goal came from a superbly planned set-piece and now Germany have their World Cup future in their own hands now. Meanwhile, Don Balon say that his future with the Galacticos isn’t insured.
Apparently, Manchester United have made a massive offer of €80 million for the German, who is open to the idea of moving to England after winning it all in Germany and Spain.
#1 Massive offer for Mbappe
And the craziest rumour of the day. One would have thought that the word ‘craziest’ could only be associated with Don Balon, but it is not the case this time since this story is brought to us by the Mirror.
According to the report, the Red Devils are eying a move for Kylian Mbappe as they feel that they could exploit Paris Saint-Germain’s constraints with FFP. Mbappe was bought for £166 million by the French giants and United wish to give them similar remuneration for the former Monaco man.
Apparently, they are willing to add Anthony Martial – who they rate at £80 million – along with giving £86 million in cash for the French superstar, who is perhaps the best teenage player in the world, in an attempt to bring him to the Theatre of Dreams.