PLAYERS WHO CAN MAKE A MARQUEE!
UNITED have sold Nani, Robin van Persie and Angel di Maria this summer, while Radamel Falcao’s loan was not extended.
From those four departures, the club has knocked around £885,000 off the weekly wage bill.
Even factoring in the five summer arrivals’ weekly salaries, the sum does not come close to the aforementioned figure. So United have more than enough money to sign a marquee name.
Here, M.E.N. Sport look at the most likely targets for Louis van Gaal before transfer deadline day.
PEDRO
UNITED want the 28-yearold, Pedro is keen to join them from Barcelona and his buy-out clause is an economical £22m.
He does not possess Di Maria’s ability but, like Ashley Young, fits Louis van Gaal’s ‘profile’. Pedro would energise United’s attack and is a selfless attacker capable of playing across the front three.
A three-time Champions League winner with World Cup and European Championship medals too, Pedro would bring some much-needed winning pedigree to a United dressing room now reduced to just 10 Premier League title winners.
RONALDO
UNITED tried to re-sign Ronaldo earlier this summer, however, Real Madrid want to recoup the £80m they paid United for the 30-year-old in 2009.
If the winger re-joined United, the club could probably sell out Old Trafford for his unveiling. He is, technically, still the best player in world football and capable of dominating the Premier League.
GARETH BALE
NEARLY two years after he moved to Madrid, Bale is still struggling to speak Spanish and his wife is living back in the UK.
If Real indicated they would be prepared to sell him, United would not think twice about offering them the £80-odd million they were willing to pay Tottenham two years ago.
The 26-year-old has the skills to enhance United’s attack. Concerns over his supposed unwillingness to defend is not to Van Gaal’s liking, though exceptions could be made for certain talents.
THOMAS MULLER
RATED at £56m, United could spend the £44.3m they received for Di Maria, a fraction of their budget – and still be able – to sign Bayern Munich’s efficient forward.
Muller, who turns 26 in September, is possibly the best big-game player in world football and should become the all-time record World Cup goalscorer either in Russia or Qatar.
He understands Van Gaal’s much-touted philosophy and can operate from either the right or up front. The question is whether he wants to leave Munich.
ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI
SIR Alex Ferguson wanted either Robin van Persie or Robert Lewandowski and chose correctly, as Van Persie’s goals secured United their 20th title.
Lewandowski has performed at Bayern and has a better chance of winning the Champions League with them.
The Poland striker earns €8m-a-year, Van Persie was earning £12m-a-year at United – and the exchange rate is in the pound’s favour.
Bastian Schweinsteiger was an attainable target and his injury issues convinced Pep Guardiola to sell him.
However, it would be amazing if United bought two big-name players from Bayern in one summer.