With the curtains now closed on the 2014/15 Premier League season, it’s time to turn our attention to what some of England’s top clubs will be up to in the transfer market this summer.
And according to the tabloids, Manchester United are set for an exceptionally busy transfer window, with The Daily Mail claiming manager Louis van Gaal be handed yet another £150million budget.
But ahead of a campaign in which the Red Devils will be expected to launch a genuine challenge for the Premier League title, the Old Trafford outfit’s summer window needs to be executed to absolute perfection.
So just in case van Gaal is yet to organise his summer intentions at Carrington, we at Football Fancast – being our usual, ever-helpful selves – have created a ‘to do’ list, containing the FIVE things the United gaffer must get sorted before September 1.
Should these be the Dutchman’s five priorities this summer?
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SIGN A SUPERSTAR
The team must always take precedence over the individual but for a club of such magnitude, Manchester United find themselves surprisingly short of world-class superstars.
Angel Di Maria hasn’t hit the heights expected since his £59million move last summer, despite bagging ten Premier League assists this season, whilst Wayne Rooney – for all his fantastic industry and versatility – is probably just outside the world’s elite bracket.
The Red Devils need another talismanic match-winner, a signing who makes a statement of intent in regards to next season’s title.
The obvious choice would be Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale, one of the biggest counter-attacking threats in world football who proved his match-winning credentials with an incredible 26-goal campaign at Tottenham – which paved the way for his £87million move to the Bernabeu in summer 2013.
But the Welsh wizard has just vowed to stick it out in the Spanish capital for at least another year, so the Red Devils will have to consider some alternatives.
Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus, despite signing a contract extension earlier this season eradicating his £25million release clause, could be available, whilst Bayern Munich’s Bastian Schweinsteiger, although verging upon the end of his peak, would certainly bring the wow factor to Old Trafford.
PSG striker Edinson Cavani remains another option – but speculation thus far suggests he’ll be moving to Juventus this summer.
Clear out the deadwood
Having now received a full campaign’s worth of action to run the rule over Manchester United’s squad, it’s time for Louis van Gaal to administer a bit of a cull – cutting those who are quite clearly no longer fit for purpose.
We already know that will include Radamel Falcao and Anders Lindegaard, and most probably Tom Cleverley, Javier Hernandez, and Nani as well – all of whom are currently out on loan.
But defenders Rafael and Jonny Evans, who have slumped down the pecking order since LVG’s arrival last summer, can probably be thrown into the mix too, whilst youngsters Adnan Januzaj, Nick Powell, Tyler Blackett and Patrick McNair desperately require some more first team experience, so loans for all four seem like a sensible move.
FIND AN ALTERNATIVE TO MATS HUMMELS
Although Chris Smalling and Phil Jones have shown considerable improvement this season – and summer signing Marcos Rojo has emerged as quite the nifty player – Manchester United still need some top drawer quality in the heart of their defence.
Mats Hummels was Louis van Gaal’s priority pick in that regard, a world-class ball-playing centre-back who has proved his quality on both the Champions League and international stages, but the German World Cup winner is now expected to stay on at Borussia Dortmund – according to club director Michael Zorc.
The Red Devils need an alternative – but world elite centre-backs aren’t exactly in copious supply at the moment. Valencia star Nicolas Otamendi has taken the tabloids’ fancy over the last few days, but he’ll reportedly cost £35million.
Looking further afield, veteran Brazilians Miranda and Dante, from Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich respectively, could fill the void for a year or two and would certainly address the glut in experience in United’s backline. United could take advantage of Jan Vertonghen’s contract situation at Tottenham, or launch a bid for in-demand former Ajax teammate Toby Alderweireld. Meanwhile, Aston Villa’s Ron Vlaar still represents fantastic value-for-money on a free transfer.
But either way, the Old Trafford outfit need to sure up their centre-back options this summer.
Shuffle the strike-force
Manchester United were famed for their relentlessness in front of goal under Sir Alex Ferguson, traditionally boasting the most talented and holistic strike-forces in the Premier League.
In terms of their huge profiles and prior returns, Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao certainly follow that tradition.
But they’ve netted just 26 league goals between them this season, the same as Sergio Aguero single-handed, and we already know the Colombian international’s loan deal at Old Trafford won’t be made permanent this summer – as reported by ESPN.
Robin van Persie, now verging upon the final year of his contract, could also be let go for loose change after spending the majority of the last two campaigns sidelined through injury.
So clearly, a strike-force reshuffle is needed this summer. Manchester United have already been linked with Porto’s 92-in-132 front-man Jackson Martinez, available through a £25million release clause, and Sevilla’s two-time Europa League winner Carlos Bacca, who has a buy-out fee of £21.5million.
The Express have suggested a £40million move for Tottenham’s talismanic 21 year-old Harry Kane, but Burnley’s bosman-bound Danny Ings, available through a compensation agreement, represents a considerably cheaper home-grown alternative.
Once again, PSG’s Edinson Cavani remains a viable option as well as Ligue 1 colleague Alexandre Lacazette, who claimed the division’s top scorer and Player of the Year award after bagging 31 goals in all competitions for Lyon.
But in my opinion, the best striker on the market this summer will be Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema. He’s one of Europe’s best but still has a point to prove after spending the last six years in Cristiano Ronaldo’s almighty shadow. The Daily Star have already alleged a £40million Old Trafford bid.
SIGN PETR CECH
With David De Gea edging only closer towards a summer move to Real Madrid, Manchester United require a high-quality replacement for their Player of the Year winner and PFA Player of the Year nominee.
Monumental shoes to fill. But in my opinion, the answer is obvious – Chelsea’s Petr Cech. Paul Scholes firmly agrees.
There will be no goalkeeper on the market this summer who represents a better balance of quality, experience and age. Indeed, the Czech international boasts four league titles, the 2012 Champions League title, three Golden Gloves and 333 appearances as the Blues No.1 – and at 33 is still firmly within his goalkeeping prime.
Cech could have another decade ahead of him at top level, and barring De Gea and Thibaut Courtois, who whisked a starting berth away from him this season, he’s easily the best goalkeeper in the top flight.
Whether Chelsea will sell to a divisional rival, however, remains to be seen. Jose Mourinho has continually expressed his reluctance to see the Stamford Bridge icon join another Premier League club, whilst recent reports claim the Blues hierarchy are strongly advising a summer move to PSG.