Manchester United announced Louis van Gaal as their new managertoday and as usual the rumour mill will be in full force, with a number of names already circulating the football galaxy.Van Gaal has the pedigree that David Moyes did not necessarily have and his work at Bayern Munich and Barcelona can go some way to attracting big names to join the club in the summer.Below are four players who van Gaal could lure to the Theatre of Dreams:
#1 Mats Hummels
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The colossal Hummels has been linked heavily with Man United in recent weeks and his future at Borussia Dortmund is currently up in the air. Manchester United are in desperate need of reinforcements at the back with both Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic leaving the club in the summer. With such a gaping hole evident at the rearguard for the Red Devils, van Gaal’s first take will be to bolster the centre of defence.
Hummels is valued at roughly £25 million by his German employees and despite reportedly wanting to stay in Germany, van Gaal could lure the international defender to Old Trafford. Dortmund kept nine clean-sheets when Hummels played this season – they kept just one in the eleven games he missed.
#2 Edinson Cavani
The Uruguayan is reportedly set to stay at Paris Saint-Germain this summer, but with other reports suggesting he is still disgruntled with life in Paris it could prove easier than first thought for Cavani to make the move to Manchester. Deployed in a wider role than he is more accustomed to, Cavani has struggled slightly to fit in at PSG.
However, he has managed 16 goals in 30 appearances in Ligue 1 this season and his prolific goalscoring nature would fit in perfectly well at the Theatre of Dreams. He has also created 23 chances for the French outfit, which would set him up well if he was to make the switch.
#3 Toni Kroos
The German midfield ace has been probably the most echoed name surrounding Manchester United this year, even when Moyes was in charge. His future still seems unclear with this summer the only year Bayern Munich can get a substantial fee for him, with his contract running out next summer. Kroos could be tempted by the fact that van Gaal has history in Germany, winning the title with Kroos’ current side, Bayern Munich.
Manchester United are in desperate need of reinforcements in the middle of the park and an ideal candidate to fit the vacancy would be Kroos. His pass accuracy is stupendous, with his figure at 92% – the highest in the Bayern squad. He has also managed to create 40 chances in the Bundesliga this season, which is the fourth-highest in the German outfit.
#4 Luke Shaw
Shaw to Manchester United looks like it could be a done deal, but with the young talent in Portugal training with the England squad ahead of the World Cup, van Gaal’s task of bringing the 18-year-old to Old Trafford could be delayed slightly. United have yet to resolve Patrice Evra’s future and with that lingering around the squad, van Gaal will be keen to avoid any transfer window mishaps by bringing in a capable replacement.
Shaw has created a brilliant 33 chances from full-back and wins on average 58% of his duels. A athleticism, pace and attacking nature will be an asset to Manchester United should van Gaal draft in the Saints youngster.
