It’s been an interesting, puzzling and arguably disappointing transfer window for title contenders Manchester United.
They were quick to complete deals for the likes of Memphis Depay, Morgan Schneiderlin, Matteo Darmian and Bastian Schweinsteiger but have been surprisingly quiet in the market since – even pulling the plug on a seemingly agreed deal for former Barcelona star Pedro, allowing him to sign for Premier League champions Chelsea instead.
Yet there’s still just enough time to get a few more deals over the line and in the last week of the summer window, nothing seems completely impossible – especially for a club of Manchester United’s stature and finance.
So could the Red Devils pull off a few last minute coups before the 6pm deadline on September 1st?
We at Football Fancast think they just might. And thus, we’ve listed FIVE players who could turn up at Old Trafford before next Tuesday, based on recent speculation.
ALEKSANDR KOKORIN
Louis van Gaal may insist he’s more than happy with the striking options already at his disposal, even claiming lanky midfielder Marouane Fellaini will be utilised as a centre-forward this term, but failing to add further firepower to Manchester United’s squad before September 1st will be a major blow to their Premier League title credentials.
According to agent Cyril Loginov, however, there’s still at least one forward option on their radar – Dynamo Moscow forward Aleksandr Kokorin. He said last week; “Right now I’m working on Kokorin’s transfer. United and Tottenham are interested in his services. There are many reasons to think that it will [happen] in one of two teams before August 31.”
He may not be a household name but the 24 year-old comes highly rated, boasting 45 goals in 193 appearances for the Russian outfit, 28 of which have come in his last 71 league outings.
He was also one of the few bright sparks for the Russian national team at last summer’s World Cup, scoring in the 1-1 draw against Algeria that essentially eliminated Fabio Capello’s side from the tournament.
Admittedly, it seems like a bit of a punt out of desperation. But allegedly available for around £8million due to his contract expiring at the end of the season, it’s a relatively low-risk signing from United’s perspective.
Neymar
It admittedly seems borderline implausible but I guess nothing is quite out of bounds during the final week of the summer transfer window.
Over the last week, the tabloids have persisted in reports of a £165million Manchester United bid for Barcelona star Neymar who, admittedly, is the kind of signing that would put the club back in the reckoning amongst European football’s highest powers.
After all, the miniscule winger-forward is widely regarded as one of the most talented players in world football, boasting 44 goals for Brazil, a Champions League title, an instrumental role in the Barcelona starting Xi, the 2011 Puskas award, consecutive South American Footballer of the Year awards and a CL Golden Boot – although shared with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo – at the tender age of just 23.
Would Neymar be interested in quitting Barcelona? Well, the theory is that a) he’ll always be overshadowed by Messi at the Nou Camp and may therefore never reach his ultimate potential and b) that he’ll become the face of the global brand at Manchester United, their flagship star for the next decade or so.
So there are a few incentives for the Selacao talisman but Barcelona have made it abundantly clear that they aren’t interested in selling. In fact, they intend to offer Neymar a new five-year contract to put all the unwelcome United rumours to bed.
If the Red Devils hope to sign him this summer, they’ll have to come up an astronomical, unprecedented bid.
ALEXANDRE PATO
One Brazil international certainly more realistically within Manchester United’s reach this summer, however, is former AC Milan star Alexandre Pato, who was allegedly offered to the Old Trafford outfit along with a bunch of other clubs for a modest £11million earlier this week.
The 5 foot 9 striker has suffered a rather spectacular fall from grace over the last few years. He originally joined the San Siro ranks as a 16 year-old and went on to bag 51 goals in 117 Serie A appearances for them.
Yet all but one goal came in his first four seasons in the Italian top flight with recurring injuries severely impacting his final 18 months in Milan, paving the way for a return to Brazil in January 2013.
The 26 year-old initially struggled at Corinthians but has rekindled some of his prior form during a lengthy loan with Sao Paolo, recording 34 goals in 70 appearances, which has convinced his parent club that now is probably the right time to sell and get some of their original £12.8million investment back.
Much like Kokorin, Pato represents a somewhat underwhelming target considering his plights in recent years. But the striker has a decent profile through the European game and although he’s by no means the solution to United’s limits up top, he could keep their goal tally ticking over for a season or two.
ILKAY GUNDOGAN
According to reports from the German media, Manchester United saw a bid for Borussia Dortmund’s Ilkay Gundogan rejected earlier this week.
The Red Devils have already added two central midfielders to their squad this summer in Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger but the German international is of a slightly different variety.
Although he too traditionally lines up in deep midfield, the 24 year-old is an agile and tenacious kind of playmaker, blending technical quality with fantastic energy both on and off the ball.
His surging runs forward became a defining feature of the Black-Yellows’ play during their surprise march to the 2013 Champions League final and although Gundogan has spent much of the intermittent period battling with injuries, he’s still regarded as one of the more exciting central midfielders in Europe.
As aforementioned, United have already seen one bid knocked back for the 5 foot 11 playmaker – in no small part due to him signing a contract extension until 2017 only a matter of months ago.
But with LVG clearly desiring more options in the middle of the park, we could see them make an improved offer before the end of the transfer window.
HUGO LLORIS
Whether David De Gea’s long awaited move to Real Madrid will actually go ahead at this late stage in the transfer window remains to be seen. But should it finally take place, many will expect Manchester United to launch a bid for Tottenham Hotspur’s Hugo Lloris.
He seems like the natural successor to the Red Devils’ 2015 Player of the Year, an equally quick goalkeeper of similar shot-stopping prowess and easily the best No.1 outside of the Premier League’s top four.
Indeed, he’s continually demonstrated top class ability since moving to White Hart Lane in summer 2012, last term completing the most saves of any goalie in the Prem’s top six, a whopping 89, whilst keeping eight clean sheets behind an incredibly porous Spurs defence.
Of course, the biggest problem is that the situation plays into Tottenham’s – or more specifically Daniel Levy’s – hands. The Spurs chairman is renowned for his ability to drive a hard bargain, especially when negotiating with other Premier League clubs, and will squeeze every penny possible out of United if he’s to sell the France international so late in the transfer window.
That being said, Lloris has never hid his desires to play in the Champions League and the north Londoners already possess a more than adequate replacement in the form of ex-Swansea City No.1 Michel Vorm.
