Rumour: Manchester United's 12-man hit-list for January

This is the list!

Reports suggest, Manchester United manager David Moyes is set to be handed a mammoth £100 million war-chest to bring the Red Devils back on track, in what has been a season of rather dismal performances.

Chief executive Ed Woodward and Moyes have targeted a number of big-name signings and will try to bring them to Old Trafford in the January window as the club refuse to give up on their chase to retain their Premier League crown.

After Sir Alex Ferguson and his backroom staff left, there was bound to be a slump. But Moyes has experienced a nightmare start, worse than previously anticipated. Sir Alex and chief executive David Gill had more than 50 years’ experience at the club between them, and Woodward has learned fast that without top talent, the team has moved backwards with rivals like Manchester City investing heavily in the summer.

The January transfer window is Moyes’ chance to save United’s season, his chance to bring in a minimum of three players to make the difference.

Here are the 12 top targets on Moyes’ wanted list.

Ross Barkley – Everton

United’s top target!

David Moyes will look for his old club for squad recruitment this winter after it emerged that the Manchester United boss is interested in striking a big-money move for Everton’s Ross Barkley. United- who made a last-ditch attempt to sign Bale before his summer move to Real Madrid- do not want to miss out on another superstar of British football. Barkley has been instrumental in Everton’s top 4 push this season and has already made it to the English team.

They believe a bid of 50 million pounds will be enough to get Everton around the negotiating table- but the Premier League champions also know there will be plenty of bridge-building if there is any chance of a deal being done. Specially after Martinez specified that he’s unavailable for a world record 86 million pounds.

Marco Reus – Borussia Dortmund

Marco Reus

Manchester United have been apparently informed by Borussia Dortmund that they will have to shell out up to £40 million and break the club’s transfer record to lure Marco Reus away from the Westfalenstadion. The 24-year old German is believed to be one of David Moyes’ prime targets as he looks to add new players to a Manchester United side that has looked bereft of ideas in the attacking third of the pitch.

Although it was initially believed that Reus had a £29.4 million buy-out clause in his contract at Borussia Dortmund which runs till the summer of 2017, the situation has changed since Bayern Munich snatched Mario Gotze last summer by activating a similar clause and since Reus is said to be available for £40 million.

Everton Ribeiro – Cruzeiro

Everton Ribeiro

Everton Augusto de Barros Ribeiro has become a sensation after his exploits for his domestic club in Brazil – Cruzerio. He has drawn attention from footballing giants like Real Madrid and Manchester United in the last few months. The fact he was voted the Brazilian League’s best player last season, ahead of Neymar, says everything about his quality. The 24-year-old is aware of interest from United and has been quoted as saying playing there is “the dream of any player”. Ribeiro would be perfect for the attacking midfield/winger role if they fail to land Barkley.

Shinji Kagawa, the former Borussia Dortmund forward, is being linked with a move away from Old Trafford to make room for this type of player. Anderson is another on the way out, with Wilfred Zaha earmarked for a loan, most likely to Newcastle United.Cristian Zapata – AC Milan

Cristian Zapata

Manchester United need re-enforcements in a number of positions, one of which is the centre of defence. With Rio Ferdinand past his prime and likely to retire at the end of the season, and with the likes of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones yet to impress, the manager will look to dip into the January transfer window to consolidate his defensive options.

The 27-year old has been in inspired form for the Rossineri this season, despite the club languishing in the bottom half of the Italian Serie A. Zapata could be available on the cheap for around 5 million pounds, and would really be a coup for Moyes, if he manages to pull it off. Although, Zapata has insisted that he is happy at Milan and has no immediate plans of leaving.

Koke – Atletico Madrid

Another top United target

This comes following speculation of Koke being heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford this January. David Moyes was seen at the Vincente Calderon earlier this season, said to be scouting the young sensation. The 21-year old has been brilliant for his side this season, raking in an impressive 8 assists in 17 appearances, second only to Cesc Fabregas in the La Liga.

The Spanish international has only 18 months left on his contract, and the Red Devils are ready to pounce on the player, who according to reports will cost them around £30 million.

Ander Herrera – Athletic Bilbao:

Please, let me leave!

After last deadline’s hilarious turn of events, which saw the Basque outfit hold on to their prized asset. Herrera to United is one that hasn’t gone away, despite comments to the contrary from the parties involved. The Spanish midfielder has endured a difficult time at Bilbao since Ernesto Valverde took the reins from Marcelo Bielsa at the beginning of the season.

Herrera has made 12 appearances for Bilbao in La Liga this season. He started one of those games on the bench and has been substituted in seven of them. Herrera prefers to play a deep-lying playmaker role somewhere in which United lack both depth and quality.Alberto Moreno – Sevilla FC

Alberto Moreno

Highly-rated Sevilla youngster is tipped as a replacement for an ageing Patrice Evra, despite Moyes’ long-running interest in Leighton Baines, from his old club Everton, and Fabio Coentrao. Baines is more than likely to stay at Everton, at least according to boss David Moyes and Coentrao is still one on United’s radar.

Moreno made his debut for Spain in October and turned 21 this year, which makes him a far more attractive prospect for the future. Jesus Navas and Alvaro Negredo both moved to Manchester City from Sevilla last summer. And with Buttner not exactly being a capable back-up for Evra or even a potential replacement, signing a left back looks eminent for United.

Fabio Coentrao – Real Madrid

Fabio Coentrao

With Evra approaching his 33rd birthday and becoming more of a liability in defence, Moyes will be working hard to bring in a suitable back-up if not an outright replacement. Baines is unlikely to leave Everton so United could go back in for the Real Madrid and Portugal left-back.

The 25-year-old was close to joining United on loan during the summer but a last-minute deal couldn’t be completed, reportedly leaving the player distraught. Coentrao would bring competent defending and astute attacking to the left side of United’s team, with the option of moving him up to play as a winger.

Angel di Maria – Real Madrid

Angel Di Maria

Real President Florentino Perez is looking to sell the Argentine winger as the club look to raise money for another spectacular signing, but other clubs are in competition for the signature of the Argentine. Although Di Maria and Perez on numerous occasions have denied that the winger would be leaving, but the rumours, they simply decline to die down.

United’s wingers have been struggling to rack up the goals and assists which has made United suffer on many occasions, as they depend to a level on their wingers to contribute. Di Maria could help solve that problem.Nemanja Matic – Benfica

Nemanja Matic

United have scouted Matic since November and a move for the former Chelsea reject is on the cards. The defensive midfielder has been a big hit at Benfica and he can enforce the weakest area of Moyes’s team in the centre of midfield. With Cleverly not reaching the potential he was billed for, and with Fellaini having minimal, if at all any impact since his summer deadline day move, a central midfielder is sure a must for United; Matic will cost £20m now that Benfica are out of the Champions League.

Ivan Rakitic – Sevilla

Ivan Rakitic: Unhappy with life in Spain

United and Liverpool have been quoted £33 million for the Sevilla skipper, who has become frustrated with a lack of success at the club and with only a year-and-a-half left on his contract, the club could be forced to sell. United will look at the Croatian if all attempts to sign Barkley fails.

Club president Jose Castro is confident that he can keep the Croatian, stating: “Ivan Rakitic has a year-and-a-half of his contract remaining. I have absolutely no doubts that we’re going to reach an agreement with him. If anyone else is in a rush to have Rakitic, his clause is €40m (£33m) and we’ll leave it at that.”

Fabian Schar – FC Basel

Fabian Schar

His defensive performances for Basel in the Champions League have brought him to the fore, with Arsenal also interested. Dimitrios Papadopoulos, Schar’s representative, says: “He is happy at Basel, where there is a great atmosphere within the club. Arsenal? I can confirm we have had contact with English clubs who want to sign him. There is also interest from Italian and German clubs, but we have more contact from England.”

Schar is a centre-back with the ability to play on the right side of defence. The 21-year-old would be defensive cover, as an eventual replacement for United captain Nemanja Vidic.