Silly season is well underway following the official opening of the summer windowÂearlier this month, withÂtransfer rumours are flying in and outÂwithÂincredible velocity here at Football Fancast.So quickly, in fact, that we’re struggling to keep track of them all. You probably are too, and thusÂwe thought it would be a good idea to start compiling all the rumours involving the Premier League’s top clubs into one place, trimmed down into easily digestible chunks via a classic Three In, Three Out format.This is Football Fancast’s second edition regarding Manchester United – check out last week’s here – amid a window in which the Old Trafford outfit are expected to match their rather monolithic £150million spend from last summer.That saw the Red Devils smash the record for a single Premier League transfer fee on £59.7million man Angel Di Maria and the record for overall spend by an English club in a single window.So will we see more of the same this year? Check out this week’s edition to find out!
OUT – ROBIN VAN PERSIE
Football Fancast reported on Manchester United’s intentions to sell Robin van Persie in last week’s edition of Three in, Three Out and as far as we’re aware, the situation hasn’t changed.
Indeed, RVP boasts a more than respectable return of 57 goals in 105 appearances for the Red Devils, firing them to their last Premier League title during the 2012/13 campaign, but now 31 years of age, United are expected to trade him in for a younger model this summer.
Currently, the Old Trafford outfit are struggling to find a buyer. Rumoured suitors Lazio and Galatasaray both ruled themselves out of the race to sign the former Arsenal talisman last week.
Van Persie, however, has been surprisingly honest about his future at Carrington, telling reporters earlier this week that he could leave United to enhance his chances of making it into the Netherlands’ squad for Euro 2016.
“When I signed for United, I knew these kinds of [reports] would appear. Next year is the European Championship. That tournament is going to play a big role in the choice I will make,” the striker is quoted as saying by The Express.
“I have to be in my best form. But most important is the wish of my wife and children. Whatever I do Bouchra, Shaqueel and Dina Layla are the highest of my priorities. They have to be happy.”
IN – CHRISTIAN BENTEKE
Louis van Gaal’s lust for added firepower has reportedly thrust Manchester United towards Christian Benteke, who ended last season with a scintillating run of twelve goals in 13 appearances – including a Premier League hat-trick against QPR.
According to reports from talkSPORT on Monday, the Red Devils have launched an enquiry into the Belgium international’s availability, coinciding with claims from Sky Sports News that he’s rejected the chance to extend his Aston Villa contract past 2017:
Currently, however, Liverpool are proving the most proactive in courting the beastly 6 foot 3 front-man’s signature. According to reports from Mirror Football yesterday evening, they’re preparing a £25million-plus-incentives offer after seeing a prior £22million bid rejected.
The Villains, on the other hand, remain adamant any suitor must activate the 24 year-old’s £32.5million release clause.
OUT – Angel Di Maria
Despite arriving at Manchester United only last summer for a record-shattering £59.7million fee and finishing his first Premier League campaign with a by-no-means-unacceptable return of three goals and ten assists in 28 appearances, Angel Di Maria’s future at Old Trafford remains surprisingly ambiguous.
Louis van Gaal demoted the Argentina international to the bench for the latter portion of last season, which appears to have triggered interest from Barcelona, Bayern Munich and PSG – who tried to sign him last summer until Financial Fair Play regulations stood in the way. Even four-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi has got involved, according to The Telegraph.
Di Maria, however, has vowed to stay on at Old Trafford despite links to Europe’s biggest clubs. As quoted by The Daily Mail, he told reporters earlier this week; “I came with an intention and end up on the bench. It’s hard to say how I feel there.
“I started well with goals and assists. I was having a good time, until I was out. It’s a little hard to explain why I do not play.
“No [I will not leave] because I’m not thinking like that. In Madrid there were times when I was whistled around the stadium but faced it and then it turned around. I like to deal with things.”
And the chances of a move away have been further reduced by news that Di Maria’s transfer from Real Madrid last summer included a clause that will only allow him to return to the Spanish top flight for £85.6million.
IN – Morgan Schneiderlin
On Wednesday, in-demand Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin made the audacious claim that he could leave the St. Mary’s outfit before pre-season training starts again next week.
The tabloids remain fairly unanimous on the three clubs reportedly in for the France international – who averaged the second-most tackles per match, 3.7, of any Premier League player last season – namely Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United.
But a lack of Champions League football has allegedly ruled Spurs out of the equation, whilst Arsene Wenger is reluctant to spend big on a holding player (Schneiderlin is reportedly valued at £24million by the Saints) following the meteoric emergence of Francis Coquelin at the end of last season.
That leaves the Red Devils as the only club left in the frame – leading Mirror Football to claim the 25 year-old will almost certainly be turning up at Old Trafford next week.
It coincides with quotes from Germany regarding another United target, Bastian Schweinsteiger. Mannschaft icon Franz Beckenbauer has advised the World Cup-winning midfielder to stay on at the Allianz Arena for a few more years before moving to the MLS.
OUT – DAVID DE GEA
It’s another transfer rumour Football Fancast reported on last week and it’s cropped up yet again – largely due to the fact David De Gea’s long awaited move to Real Madrid already seems to have passed the point of no return.
Last week game news that Los Blancos had ramped up their interest in the PFA Player of the Year nominee due to Keylor Navas picking up a rather nasty Achilles injury at the Copa America which could see him sidelined for the next six months, whilst EuroSport claimed the 24 year-old is determined to ensure the seemingly immovable Iker Casillas will be booted out of the Bernabeu as soon as he signs on the dotted line.
Further updates on the lengthy transfer saga arrived this morning. According to The Daily Mail, United are demanding £35million for De Gea, which would make him the most expensive goalkeeper of all time, smashing Gigi Buffon’s current record of £33million.
Real Madrid, however, intend to open bidding at just £13million – knowing that the Spain international won’t be extending his United contract past the end of next season, when he’ll be available on a free transfer.
IN – SERGIO RAMOS
It’s probably the biggest story of the week in both the Premier League and La Liga – the bizarre series of circumstances which have lead Manchester United to bid £35million for Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos.
It follows claims from Barcelona presidential candidate Jordi Majo last week, who alleges he was offered the decade-serving Blanco and 2010 World Cup winner as an ‘electoral asset’ in his campaign to become the top dog at the Nou Camp. The presidential election is on July 18th.
Those allegations, which appear to be true, have cast serious doubts over the 29 year-old’s future at the Bernabeu, whilst leading to revelations of his disillusionment over a current net salary of £4million per year.
He’d certainly address United’s need for an experienced centre-half with quality on the ball. But amid reports from ESPN claiming Real Madrid intend to block any bid for the Spain international, skeptics will wonder whether United are simply putting pressure on the La Liga outfit to get a better deal for David De Gea.