Manchester United Transfer News: Latest on Arturo Vidal and Angel Di Maria

Though a dark cloud still looms over Old Trafford thanks to former manager David Moyes, there are now endless reasons for Manchester United fans to search for the silver lining.

With Louis van Gaal at the helm with ambitions only for the top, the restoration of the glory days at the Theatre of Dreams now looks a near certainty.

There’s only so much a fresh outlook and different tactics can bring, though, and the Dutch manager knows that he needs to spend big to cement United’s place among the domestic elite once again.

And spending big doesn’t mean panicking and bringing in another Marouane Fellaini-esque signing for Van Gaal, as he has the highly rated Arturo Vidal and Angel di Maria firmly in his sights.

Massimo Pinca/Associated Press

The former was one of the sensations of the World Cup with Chile, bringing his Serie A form with Juventus to Brazil.

However, despite Vidal’s sterling (and deserved) reputation in the game, reports are emerging that United are ready to pull out of the transfer, with his £34 million price tag apparently too high, per David Anderson of the Mirror.

Anderson writes that Manchester United are determined not to break the bank for Vidal, but is £34 million really paying over the odds for such a talented midfielder? The 27-year-old scored 11 goals and assisted five more in Serie A last term per WhoScored.com, but his talent goes beyond finding the net, as he’s one of the best midfielders plying his trade right now.

That’s something that Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe agrees with, and he believes that with Vidal, United can reach dizzying heights of success once again:

In Manchester United terms, £34 million is just a few pennies more than the astronomical figure they paid for Fellaini at the start of last season, so there must be something more behind it.

Journalist Tom McDermott thinks that it could be something to do with the Juventus man’s injured knee, as how could United not shell out for his services?

It seems that Vidal himself is also keen to play for the Red Devils, too, as he said that playing for such a big club is what dreams are made of, per Anderson: “I’ve heard about the rumours. I’m enjoying my holidays, and when I return to Italy I’ll see what happens. I’m very calm, but anyone would love to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world.”

With doubt creeping into the transfer, though, Vidal may not be able to enjoy playing for “one of the biggest clubs in the world,” and United may decide to look elsewhere.

Massimo Pinca/Associated Press

As one transfer falls into doubt, another one gets more likely, though, as Angel Di Maria’s chances of going to Old Trafford were enhanced earlier this week.

Though Paris Saint-Germain looked like stealing the Real Madrid forward from United’s grasp, Anderson reports that Di Maria has snubbed a move to the French capital, opening the door to United.

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

One of Madrid’s best players last season, the Argentinian has been the subject of mass transfer speculation since he lifted the Champions League trophy, and United have understandably been chasing his signature.

However, with Van Gaal and United unable to offer Di Maria Champions League football next season, it’s difficult to see the 26-year-old making the switch to Manchester.

Alberto Saiz/Associated Press

It means that the Dutch manager is going to need to finely tune his powers of negotiation to land Di Maria, but he’d undoubtedly be worth it.

Likewise with Vidal, who would fit into Van Gaal’s system perfectly as a ferocious tackler with dynamic ability going forward.

It seems that both of the transfers hang in the balance right now, but if sealing deals is simply a matter of the club putting their hands into their bottomless pockets, the solution is simple.