Manchester United Transfers: 5 Big-Name Targets Who Could Go Red This Summer

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Manchester United have already missed out on some of their biggest hopeful targets in the likes of Eden Hazard having gone to Chelsea, and Barcelona signing defender Jordi Alba.

The Red Devils have completed some moves in the market with the signatures of Shinji Kagawa from Borussia Dortmund and Nick Powell from Crewe Alexandra.

However, the frustration continues over additional moves as it seems Sir Alex Ferguson's side has struggled to attract their top talent this summer so far thanks to a trophyless season in 2011-12.

There is no doubting the pedigree of Manchester United's history, but with their rebuilding process set to go into full swing, it appears to be causing a snag in their new signings.

If the Red Devils could secure one or two of the following players linked to them, it would do them a great service in moving them forward.

Luka Modric

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Manchester United have been chasing Tottenham Hotspur's Croatian playmaker Luka Modric for much of this summer.

However, their battle has seen them lock horns with Real Madrid over the player's anticipated move. The Daily Mail continue to point towards Modric heading to the Spanish capital over Manchester.

Despite the recent appointment of Andre Villas-Boas to Tottenham's hot seat according to BBC, it is still highly likely that Modric is going to take his leave.

Manchester Untied could certainly use him, but it is yet to be known where the 26-year-old will end up.

James Rodriguez

Manchester United look to be very interested in pursuing FC Porto's Colombian youngster, James Rodriguez.

The 20-year-old is believed to be one of the top young wide players in the world and is rumored to have a £45 million buyout clause in his contract that United are trying to find their way around.

A recent attempt to sign the player for £30 million plus according the Daily Mail made mention that Brazilian midfielder, Anderson could be included. However, if rumors from ClubCall are true, that notion looks to have hit stumbling blocks.

Nicolas Gaitan

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Although the rumors of Benfica star Nicolas Gaitan moving to Manchester United have cooled in the past few weeks, it is still possible that the talented Argentine midfielder makes his way to Old Trafford.

TalkSport broke news that Anderson could be involved as a makeweight back in April of 2012, and that could still be the case as the club once again appear interested in United's outcast midfielder according to the Daily Mail.

Sir Alex Ferguson took notice of the 24-year-old's talent during the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League campaigns of his Portuguese club, and the Scottish manager has been an admirer ever since.

Leighton Baines

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Manchester United were linked to Everton's Leighton Baines before the rumors surfaced about the club's pursuit of Valencia's Jordi Alba.

With the later having now sealed his move to FC Barcelona in the past few days as announced by ESPN, Sir Alex Ferguson is believed to possibly be returning his focus to the 27-year-old English left-back according to both the Daily Mail and the Daily Star.

Axel Witsel

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In the light of the rumors of Nicolas Gaitan dying down, Manchester United have been linked to a different Benfica midfielder.

Bleacher Report's Ben Chodos has discussed the possible move of Belgian international Axel Witsel to Manchester United in detail here. TalkSPORT broke the original reports on the player's link to the Red Devils.

Witsel is expected to be a better-priced possibility as the Red Devils are still in need of multiple new signings this summer.