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It is no surprise that Manchester United need quality signings if they are to return to their glory days and start winning trophies again. With the Champions League berth almost confirmed, United have to break the bank yet again to compete against the top European clubs if they do not want to haplessly get knocked off the group stages as Liverpool this season.
They have already signed Memphis Depay from PSV for a whopping £25 million but need big names on the wings to run through the defences and provide venomous crosses into the box. Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young have had good patches under van Gaal but haven’t been as consistent as the big names of world football.
With Valencia successfully crossing a ball inside the box becoming as rare as Falcao hitting the back of the net, United have much to think about if they want an effective right wing. Their record signing of Angel di Maria had the sudden burst of form in the early half of the season, but the injury prone Argentinian seems no permanent solution to United’s problems at the moment. Adnan Januzaj is no doubt talented, but still lacks the experience to be handed in a start every game.
With Nani’s future at the club as good as dead, the left wing also lacks the cutting edge that probably Hazard provides for Chelsea. There truly won’t be another Ryan Giggs to ‘tear teams apart’ and Depay cannot be expected to suddenly change everything at Old Trafford. Young’s contract expires next summer while Valencia has a contract that keeps him at United till 2017, and it is best that United shrug them off before they are to be let off for free.
Here are 5 wingers Manchester United can target this summer given that they have both the financial resources and the prospect of playing in the UCL to lure them in:
Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)
Gareth Bale has both the pace and the dribbling abilities that make him a top target for any club. His physicality also helps him win the aerial balls while his crosses have improved in the past couple of years. The Welshman left Tottenham for Real Madrid in 2013 for a record fee of £86 million but is facing difficult times with the Spanish giants of late. His form has dropped and with the ‘boos’ from the fans game after game, a return to the Premier league might help him escape the madness he faces at Madrid.
He has scored 13 goals and provided 9 assists in his 30 appearances this season. United though may have to pay way beyond their record signing of di Maria to get his services, but given Bale’s age and he would be a long-term prospect, the gamble may just pay off. Also, with van Gaal at the helm of affairs at United, Bale can easily be used for that 3-5-2 formation that just fell out of sorts this season. And as far as Bale is concerned, former Real Madrid and Wales boss John Toshack believes that not only is he being played out of position at Madrid, but that his situation is ‘strange.’
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
A name that was wanted back at Old Trafford by the United supporters probably from the second he left! There was a reason David Beckham was forgotten by United far more quickly than many had thought. With those skills, nutmegs, and bizarre rabonas that he performed at will, Cristiano was at his lethal best on the right flank. And with Madrid, he probably took that to a whole new level while switching on the left. He also plays as an occasional striker, but he probably won’t be asked to perform that role at United.
The unending transfer saga and the endless rumours that are constantly linked with the Portuguese, keeps United in the loop always for re-signing their ‘Prince.’ He left Manchester in 2009 and has been at the pinnacle of success ever since netting 313 goals in just 300 appearances for Real Madrid. However, there are reports of several factors that Ronaldo seem to be unhappy about.
Firstly, with Real releasing Ozil and di Maria, Cristiano had to adapt to the new changes made in the squad up front and he was blatantly declared that he did not appreciate them leaving the club.
Adding to that, his issues with club President Florentino Pérez is no secret. With Perez sacking Carlo Ancelotti within days after Ronaldo praised the Italian on his Instagram account, the relationship has hit a new low. A certain section also claims that the performance of Real Madrid domestically (1 La Liga in the last 6 seasons) has left Ronaldo frustrated.
However, the management has to put in a lot of thoughts before they plan to place a bid as a price tag that huge may not be a good option given that Ronaldo is already 30 and may not have too many seasons left in him.
Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund)
Hardly is there a club on the planet who is not interested in signing him up. An attacking midfielder with the flexibility to play on both the wings and has the skills to play as a striker, Reus is probably the complete package which United lacks in the dressing room. Alongside the versatile Mata and di Maria, Reus would probably be at his lethal best upfront providing the cutting edge the team lacked this season.
The goals had dried up, the passes not ending at the back of the net, and with Reus who can be used as an occasional striker; he would come in handy.
Reus has signed a contract extension with Dortmund that keeps him at the club till 2019, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be lured. The club ended their horrendous campaign finishing 7th, but more importantly 33 points behind leaders Bayern Munich. They will not be playing the Champions League next season and thus the move certainly cannot be put off the cards with a section of Dortmund fans mentally prepared to lose yet another star.
Nicolas Gaitan (Benfica)
Gaitan was bought from Boca Juniors by Benfica as a replacement for Angel di Maria who was sold to Real Madrid but could now be seen playing alongside United’s record signing. At 27, Gaitan still has a lot to offer and the price tag of around £21 million seems just.
Gaitan has been linked with the club since 2012 but may secure a deal this summer to United. A rumoured fee of around £21 million though has been doing the talks but there has been no official confirmation on the same. The Argentine, who is also a good friend of Angel di Maria has shown interest in moving out of Benfica with both Chelsea and United seem to be fascinated in swooping him up.
Gaitan can be used on both the flanks as well; preferably right. However in such a scenario, Valencia may just be forced to continue as a right back where he has comparatively done better than he has done in midfield (Valencia has 69 tackles to his name playing as a right-back – the highest this season). United also enjoy a special relationship with Gaitan’s agent Jorge Mendes who also has di Maria, Valdes, Falcao, Nani, De Gea and Ronaldo as his clients.
Zakaria Bakkali (PSV Eindhoven)
Aged just 19, Bakkali is one of the promising talents of world football at this hour. He is skilled, has the pace to run through defences and has the ability to provide those deadly crosses as well. Even if van Gaal doesn’t use him right away, in a season or so, his price would go soaring making it difficult for United to get their hands on him.
He is the youngest ever Eredivisie player to have scored a hat-trick; a feat that made him come to the limelight. His relationship with PSV has also soured since November 2014 and having already refused a contract extension, it is just a matter of time before he hands in a transfer request this summer.
Celtic had offered £750,000 on the winter transfer deadline day, but PSV declined it. If United, however, manage to bring in Bakkali, then along with Januzaj, United would definitely have good names to bank upon for the future.
His agent Marcel Vermeen has already spoken on the issue stating, “He wants to leave PSV because of sporting reasons.” Bakkali could be available for as low as £200,000 as a development fee in case United do not face a competition from rivals Liverpool and Arsenal who also have him as a potential target.
