After missing out on Champions League qualification, Manchester United are set for another summer rebuild.
Whether it’s Louis van Gaal or another manager in his place making the decisions remains to be seen, but whomever is in charge has a number of areas to improve in order to change the team’s fortunes for the better. Van Gaal has famously spent hundreds of millions of pounds to little effect at the club and whether the Red Devils’ owners want to afford him such riches again this time around is up for debate. If they do, however, they’ll be expecting a far bigger return for their outlay.
Around every transfer window the same names get banded about – players who are reportedly perpetually unhappy at their current club and set for a move to Old Trafford. With this in mind it’s nearly that time again and so FootballFanCast brings you TEN players bound to be linked to the club…
Toni Kroos
Kroos was linked with the club before moving to Real Madrid from Bayern Munich. The World Cup winner is a world class player but perhaps hasn’t been the replacement Madrid wanted for Xabi Alonso, who went in the opposite direction. Meanwhile Luka Modric has completely expelled any doubts over his ability to become the best midfielder at the club, so maybe the German Kroos might want out.
Neymar
A deal for the Brazilian star has been in the pipeline for some seasons and though Neymar started La Liga in blistering form this season, he somewhat dropped off as Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi kept firing. Of course keeping pace with those two would be hard for any player in world football, but maybe Barcelona have seen life after him? Perhaps not, but that might not stop United testing the Catalans resolve.
Paul Pogba
The former United youth player went off to Juventus because he wanted first team action and felt he deserved it, whereas Sir Alex Ferguson did not. It looks as though Fergie got this one wrong though as the Frenchman has evolved into one of the world’s best and offers attributes the Manchester United midfield is sorely lacking. Another dominant season for Juventus means he might not want to move, but perhaps the sense of unfinished business at Old Trafford could turn his head?
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Ibrahimovic is on the move and has yet to reveal where, though it’s likely it could finally be the Premier League. The towering Swede scores goals for fun and has done wherever he’s gone, winning an abundance of league titles along the way. He’s sure to be linked with a whole host of top clubs but may fancy being United’s main striker given the Old Trafford outfit are short in that department.
Alvaro Morata
Morata has been in good form for Juventus this year contributing eleven goals and twelve assists in all competitions. The young Spaniard already has an impressive CV having moved from Real Madrid to play in Turin and is also set to play a part at EURO 2016 with his national side. Every player has a price though and if United offer a good deal the Old Lady might be persuaded to sell up.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Maybe he’ll be back this year? Ever since Ronaldo left Old Trafford in 2009 he’s been linked with a return. He obviously has serious affection for the club and is repeatedly being asked about his happiness at the Bernabeu, add to that he’s getting older but still scoring ridiculous amounts of goals and it could be time for the Portuguese to return to the club that transformed him into a world class talent.
Raphael Varane
United’s defence needs improving and Raphael Varane needs to be playing, it makes sense, surely? Varane has all the tools to be a world class centre half but doesn’t get the game time his ability demands at Real behind Sergio Ramos and Pepe. United could be the club for him with Daley Blind a makeshift centre half and Phil Jones’ injury woes there’s a perfect opening for the Frenchman.
James Rodriguez
The Colombian was the best player at the 2014 World Cup, despite the golden ball going to Lionel Messi. Rodriguez scored ludicrous goals and put himself in the shop window for the elite clubs in Europe, allowing him to sign for Real Madrid. Things, however, have not been plain sailing since and the South American has not featured anywhere near as much as he would have liked this year, leading to inevitable questions over his future.
Antoine Griezmann
Griezmann is one of the men to watch at EURO 2016 as he has had a phenomenal campaign. A player who has evolved from a left winger to a second striker and at times leading the line, he has fired Atletico Madrid to the Champions League final. If he performs well in that and then at the European Championships, Atletico with their smaller resources might find it hard to turn down a mega offer from the likes of United.
John Stones
Stones has had an indifferent campaign that has highlighted both his potential and needing to learn. He’s been encouraged to play the ball out from the back but not to just clear his lines sometimes and that’s caught Everton out. It’s up for debate whose fault that is for the Toffees this year but Stones risks seeing his career floundering when he does have the potential to be world class.