Manchester United : 5 possible transfer targets

So far the new campaign has been a tale of two Manchester sides who have hit scintillating form which has left their title rivals gasping for breath.

The cash rich City lead their local rivals United by 5 points which included a 6-1 trashing in the derby at Old Trafford as the so called ‘Noisy Neighbors’ made a statement of intent at the fortress of their Manchester counter-part. With the dip in form of summer signing Ashley Young and injuries to key personnel, United have lacked the flow and zing which has been the USP of Sir Alex’s men over the years. The constant shuffling and wiggling in the backline and midfield hasn’t yielded positive results and clearly there is a need for player reinforcements.

With the Premier League still in its infancy as the transfer window fast approaches , here are 5 possible transfer targets the Red Devils may look to poach for come January to bridge the gap at the top and better their own record of 19 league titles.

1. Neven Subotic (Centre-Back) :-

Manchester United have been linked with the Serb in the past, who has been an integral cog in the Borussia Dortmund team and helped them clinch their first ever Bundesliga crown last season. However, his commitment towards Dortmund and the £25m price tag may be enough to ward off any interest from clubs who are hoping to secure his signature. The 6ft 4in robust centre-back who is known for his commanding physical presence, has already won 28 caps for the national side. With fellow countryman Nemanja Vidic already a part of the squad, settling in England should not be a problem for Subotic and can prove to be an able replacement for the injury prone Rio Ferdinand if he decides to make a switch to the theatre of dreams.

2. Leighton Baines (Left-Back) :-The full back has been the stand out performer for the Merseyside club featuring in every single game of last year’s Premier League campaign. A dead ball specialist, Baines has scored a total of 12 goals in his career,out of which 7 of them have come in the previous season which signifies his growth as a player with Everton. His goal scoring ability backed with strong technical play may be the convincing factor for Sir Alex to sign the England international who is valued at £20m by the Toffees. If a bid is tabled, David Moyes may be forced to sell one of his star player’s in order to reduce the club’s financial debts.

3. Ross Barkley (Winger) :- Everton may be on the other-side of a double raid from Manchester United as the champions have set their sights on youngster Ross Barkley. The 17 year-old has shone in the limited appearances for the Toffees, attracting interest from a number of elite clubs across Europe notably Manchester United , which seems to be the most likely destination for the teenage sensation. Barkley has earned praise from Moyes for his direct approach to the game, which is something United have been lacking over the years following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid. The £20m rated teenager could prove to be the lynch-pin of Man Utd’s future squad and provide the extra spark which Ferguson’s men have clearly been missing.

4.Nicolas Gaitan (Left/Central Midfielder) :- The Benfica man has been scouted by the English club on numerous occasions and if reports are to be believed, Manchester United will be making a formal inquiry on the availability of the midfielder come January. Gaitan, who has been deployed on the left hand side of midfield by Benfica, is also adept at playing the No.10 role which would add to United’s attacking prowess. However,the 23 year old Argentine won’t be available for a cut-price after he signed a contract extension which includes a £40m buy-out clause. If Gaitan does sign for the red devils in the winter, he’ll be cup tied for the Champions League and as such it make would more sense if the deal is closed out next summer.

5 a. Christian Eriksen (Attacking-Midfielder) :-The Ajax playmaker had emerged as a transfer target for both the Manchester clubs this summer but cooled down talks of a move to England by committing his future to the Dutch Champions. The 19 year old Dane who was named ‘Dutch Football’s Talent Of The Year’ last season, is already an integral part of the national set-up. The lanky midfielder despite being in his tender years, has drawn comparisons with Paul Scholes and has earned high regards from the legend Johan Cruyff, which speaks volume’s about this boy’s talent. If the money offered is right and Ajax are ready to sell, it’ll be excellent business for United as they will have secured one of the best young prospects in Europe.

5 b. Reader’s Choice :-Generally the transfer gossip leaves the fans with more unanswered questions and countless speculations. This one is for the readers to unveil the scout within them .Looking forward to reading your thoughts and opinions in the comment box.