Will the Dutchman be joining United in the Summer?
It’s getting closer isn’t it? Summer is in the air, bees and wasps (can’t stand them, more annoying than trying to decipher a Steven Gerrard interview) are starting to appear, that summer holiday is getting ever closer, and the transfer market is looming ominously, just over the horizon.
It’s that time of year when all things are possible (if only in journalists minds), when dreamers dare to dream, and the rumours have already begun. United are linked with hundreds of players every summer, but rarely are the media stories accurate. Last summer? Over 100 players linked with moves to United. How many signed? None.
It seems certain, however, that United will enter the market this summer, and strengthen in some pretty major areas, with Edwin Van der Sar hanging up his gloves and Paul Scholes (in all probability) hanging his boots on the next peg along. So where will United strengthen? And who will they sign? Here I’ll attempt to separate fact and fiction and hopefully provide a window into the summer ahead.
Goalkeeper
It seems almost certain United will sign a goalkeeper this summer, with the decorated Dutchman hanging up his gloves. So who are the candidates in this key position, and will Sir Alex learn from his mistakes when attempting to replace The Great Dane.
David De Gea
A goalkeeper of commanding presence, De Gea (nicknamed Van de Gea for his similar stature to Van der Sar) has already accrued experience under pressure in Atletico’s Europa League triumph last season, as well as facing Messi, Ronaldo, Villa and (last season) Silva in La Liga. Arguably one of the brightest young prospects around and is certain to become Spain’s first choice between the sticks.
Potential Price: £20m
Manuel Neuer
Neuer, older than De Gea at 24, has been linked with United for even longer than De Gea. Forced into Germany’s World Cup starting XI due to the death of Robert Enke and Rene Adler’s injury, Neuer was a key figure in Germany’s march to the semi-finals and has also been key in Schalke’s progression to a Champions League semi-final against United.
Potential Price: £15m
Pepe Reina
This would certainly be controversial wouldn’t it? Liverpool’s first class Spanish stopper, idolised by the Kop, moving to United. If his nationality was anything other than Spanish, Reina would be first choice for his country, but is held back by the excellent Iker Casillas. A keeper with excellent reactions and a tendency to frustrate penalty takers with his agility.
Potential Price: £25m
Verdict: For me it has to be De Gea due to his youth and potential to be United’s first-choice keeper for 20 years (or more). De Gea would provide a calmness and assurance and is certainly not inexperienced, despite his youth.
Central midfield
United’s central midfield has been the focus of much criticism from fans and pundits alike this season, accused of a lack of creativity, a problem which will only become worse if Paul Scholes were to retire in the summer.
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Wesley Sneijder
Inter Milan’s world class attacking midfielder was at the centre of both their treble triumph of 09/10 and the Netherlands march to the World Cup final, where they were defeated by Spain. A class midfield operator (many would argue the best in the world), Sneijder pulls the strings, often from a position just behind the striker. May be a gamble as unproven in Premier League.
Potential Price: £35-40m
Luka Modric
The man many United fans crave to replace the Ginger Prince, Modric, originally considered too lightweight when he arrived in England, is calm, composed, able to find space and pick a pass, as well as pop up with the odd goal, albeit only two this season in the Premier League. His passing range is excellent, although, like Sneijder, he seems to need the insurance of a purely defensive minded player alongside him in CM.
Potential Price: £30-35m
Charlie Adam
He had to pop up somewhere. A man who’s been a bone of contention on Twitter for weeks, as arguments rage between me an everyone else (it seems) concerning his merits as a future United player. The Blackpool captain has a superb passing range, capable of splitting a defence with a subtle ball or pinging 60 yard crossfield passes. Also provides a massive threat on free-kicks (something lacking at United right now), is a clinical penalty-kick taker and provides leadership and drive from the centre of the park.
Potential Price: £8-10m
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I agree on da gea. But we have depth, too much even, so any purchases need to be world class. Add da gea, sneijder, and either Bale, Sanchez or douglas costa. Young, rodwell, even Adam (who would be a great fit at united) are not improvements over players currently in the squad. And with youth like pogba, Morrison and cleverly coming up we don’t need to spend on depth. Not one of them would make a starting XI. Anderson is going nowhere, cept maybe further up the pitch. Berbatov is unlikely to move. Outs should be vds, scholes(please no), Gibson, obertan,etc. Maybe a few youngsters on loan. Please SAF, we have more than enough good players. We need 2-3 more great players. Bout time to spend that Ronaldo money we’ve been promised for two years.
Bearring the unknown factors, size of SAF buget, williness OF selling teams & players to come, & SAF plans with his players on lone that look to have the maturity to make the grade to Manu tean as squad players, like cleaverly & Wellbeck, all others been to young still, I think De Gea + (Rolando or Mexes) + Rodwell + Snijder & Young are needed replacements or backups for V.D.S; (Brown, Neville), Gibson, Carrick, Schools & Giggs, respectively.
For me, to say the fact in the goalkeeping aspect, i prefer De Gea, and in d defence i hope we release the likes of Wes Brown and Johnny Evans should go out on loan and probably we bring in Mexes or Cahill or maybe Thiago of millan since he state his desire to join ur his brazilan teammates at United. In d midfield, i hope we release the likes of owen, gibson & obertan be replaced by Adam whereas scholes should be replaced by sneidjer. On the flanks i prefer to have sanches but to create room for him we need to release park.
Can people stop slagging off Anderson, before he had his injury this season he was looking like the player we had in his 1st season he’s still only 22 remember. Anyway I think we should sign neuer, sniejder and bale and maybe start playing nani as a striker
I agree snjider it’s a must.we need his expirience on midfield and i beleve anderson and pogba can get better and be top class midfielders.
I fall strongly in the Adam is not gd enough for utd camp.. I’m sorry but as impressive as he is we still have the best Scottish player in our squad.. Young would be a safe bet but how much better can he get? He is already in his mid twenties and I’d prefer we went for a younger player like Sanchez, who despite the lack of EPL experience has a sprinkling of stardust about him.. He won’t be cheap but I would love for Sir to take the gamble on him
Cant fault the logic of sneijder as he is absolutely class however if we sign him it means there prb wont b much money for anyone else.. maybe the future is Pogba with Sir bringing in De Rossi whose contract is expiring and is looking for an exit?
I must agree on the De Gea choice tho, genuinely excited to see us linked so heavily with him. I watched him in that Europa winning campaign and he is a brilliant shot stopper.. I do worry abt big game experience tho but then Casillas was ace when thrown in that CL final in 02 so one can only hope that its in the Spanish water or sumtink
There is another benefit to buying wesley sneijder, perhaps a not so obvious benefit, and that is access to the signing of his very talented kid brother Rodney Sneijder. Real Madrid tried to buy him while wesley was there, but he stood in to stop the transfer, most probably because of the way Real were treating him. With a bit of encouragement from our new signing wesley, rodney could also be signed for the future
Getting back to Snijder coming to OT. How many players, family & friends have said YES he wants to come and that MU are a great team etc etc, only to be tempted away by bigger money or transfer fee. Or using the MU move as a bargaining tool to get a better deal elsewhere. Snijder is world class and is needed, but I’m sure the other big clubs and spenders will be chasing him. It will depend on the player himself I think.
As I said before,I hope SAF doesn’t buy a few lesser players “hoping” to discover the next gem. Yes it has worked with Ronaldo, Nani and Hernandez etc. It’s time to spend some of the £80m on players instead of Glazer family “loans” for themselves….thieves!
What about Young or Bale on the left. Sanchez on the right. Rodwell for the centre to play along side existing options of Fletcher and Carrick. With Nani and Park as other options. Get rid of Gibson, Anderson, Scoles, Obertan and Bebe. Keep Berba, Rooney, Hernandez, Owen and Macheda. Maybe get that Ronaldo defender from Porto
We need a defensive midfield player as the same arguments that led us to pay Hargraves still apply today. Carrick is not that kind of player. And of course we need a creative midfield player. Mascherano and snjider would be super buys. We need to get rid of brown, Gibson, Obertan .. Carrick, Anderson and Fletcher should be kept. I am less concerned about Bale, Douglas or Sanchez because Nani and Valencia are cutting the mustard. Of course, I would like one of those three but integrity of our central midfield is the priority.