Scouting 3 Potential Summer Transfer Targets for Manchester United

With Manchester United linked with an apparently endless stream of transfer targets, we have run the rule over three of them.

Roberto Firmino

TalkSPORT reported on Thursday that they understood United had "agreed a fee" with Hoffenheim to acquire Roberto Firmino. 

Nabor Goulart/Associated Press

Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe, writing for uMAXIt Football, suggested that if the reported £13.1 million fee is accurate, United would have pulled off “an early, speculative contender for the best [signing] of the entire summer.”

Tighe goes on to say that Firmino's recent job filling in up front for both Brazil and Hoffenheim has, "allowed him to progress quickly into a stupendous player; his overall skill set, technique, speed and understanding of runs and space, in addition to his improving finishing, make him a formidable opponent in the final third."

Greg Johnson took a detailed look at Firmino for Squawka. He drew attention to the prolific chance creation and willingness to take on players that are integral parts of Firmino's game. Interestingly, though, in terms of Firmino as a potential Louis van Gaal signing, Johnson also wrote:

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What marks Firmino out as a player worthy of a place in the Dutchman’s team is his capacity to win the ball, defend from the front and trouble opponents with or without possession.

...

His ability to follow orders and work for the team and the manager’s system has seen him become an unexpectedly central figure in Dunga’s second stint in charge of the Brazil national team.

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With 2.7 tackles per game in last season's Bundesliga, there is plenty of statistical basis for this view. 

In terms of where he would play, Firmino could replace Marouane Fellaini in the system Van Gaal was using during the latter part of last season, or the Dutchman could ask him to slot in up front.

Nicolas Otamendi

Marcos Rojo has been causing amusement by favouriting tweets linking Nicolas Otamendi with a move to United, reported by the Manchester Evening News. There are multiple stories about his potential transfer to Old Trafford doing the rounds at the moment.

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On one hand, citing Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Nicolo Schira, Will Giles of Metro reports that United are looking to acquire him for £25 million. On the other, John Richardson of the Express suggests United are preparing to bid £35 million.  

His acquisition would make a lot of sense for Van Gaal's side. At 27 years old, he is a central-back in the prime of his career. After several good years at Porto, he spent last season at Valencia. He was a near ever present for La Liga's third-meanest defence.

Ben Nagle of Sky Sports quotes Spanish football expert Guillem Balague as saying:

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Valencia's improvement and challenge for the Champions League qualification is due in no small part to the efforts of this excellent central defender, who in addition to great defence has a habit of weighing in with important goals, namely the winner to end Real Madrid’s 22-match unbeaten run.

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Nagle describes Otamendi as "commanding and comfortable with the ball at his feet." The first part of that is exactly what United need in their back four, and the second is what is needed to fit into Van Gaal's style of play.

On average, in league games last season, Otamendi won the most aerial duels and made the most tackles, interceptions and clearances in the Valencia squad. He was clearly a crucial player for them. 

He would likely be a crucial player for United should they tempt him away from Los Che.

Harry Kane

It is hard to shake the feeling that this is implausible, given his status as a cult hero at Tottenham Hotspur. Combine that with how recently he has staked a claim to first-team, top-flight football, and Harry Kane to United seems somewhat far-fetched.

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Nonetheless, he has been repeatedly linked with the Red Devils so far this summer. James McMath of the Express reported on Saturday: "A senior United figure said Kane is 'someone we are interested in' but added that no approach had yet been made to Tottenham."

Kane's abilities were on display for all to see in the season just passed. He scored lots of different sorts of goals and looks to have the potential to grow into a complete No. 9.

An excellent header of the ball, Kane is also capable of scoring from range, and his movement in the box is superb. Of course, there remains the chance that 2014/15 was an outlier—a hot streak that will not be repeated. However, the manner of his goals suggests he is a player of real quality.

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Twenty-one league goals in his first proper season playing in the top flight is a superb return. He is not overly reliant on his pace, either, meaning that getting a few years older is more likely to improve him than cost him an important attribute.

Implausible and a gamble it may be, but Kane's would be a signing with a huge potential upside for United.

All advanced statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com except where otherwise stated.