Manchester United Transfer News: Latest Daniele Rugani, Mario Gomez Rumours

Manchester United and Arsenal are reportedly still looking at Juventus defender Daniele Rugani, the talented youngster who continues to spend his time on the bench in Turin, trapped behind a number of veteran options.

According to Tutto Mercato Web (h/t Independent's Jack De Menezes), both the Gunners and Red Devils will push hard for a January move, even if the 21-year-old is unlikely to leave the Bianconeri on a permanent basis.

Rugani moved to Turin after a fantastic spell with Empoli in 2014-15, playing every minute of the Serie A season without getting booked. He's considered one of the top talents in Italy but predictably has yet to make his mark for the Serie A Champions.

Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli rank among the very best defenders in Europe, and all three sit ahead of him in the pecking order. Martin Caceres has also seen more playing time so far this season.

Rugani remains a big part of Juventus' future, however, and the Italians will do everything possible to avoid a sale in January. Manager Massimiliano Allegri made that very clear in a recent press conference, via the club's official Twitter account:

Bleacher Report's Adam Digby tried to put Rugani's current situation into context, dismissing the idea of a transfer:

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Juventus have struggled and are desperate for results, but in spite of the effects that being thrown into such a side could have on a youngster, Rugani has been quickly linked with a move away. Among others, Italian newspaper Tuttosport (h/t Football Italia) noted interest from Arsenal, Napoli and Manchester United when the transfer window opens in January.

Yet doing so flies in the face of how Juventus have managed his career, first signing the defender back in 2012. After spending a year with the Bianconeri youth team, he returned to former club Empoli, where he would spend the next two seasons, helping them earn promotion to Serie A ahead of the 2014/15 campaign.

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The fact Juventus are bringing Rugani along so slowly is hardly a surprise, and the youngster knew full well how little he would play when he returned to Turin this summer. Right now, he's learning from three star veteran defenders in training every day, which is far more valuable than going back on loan to another club.

Arsenal and Manchester United would love to add Rugani to their squads, given his incredible potential and long-term outlook. Rugani projects as a star defender but is still a young and inexperienced player.

A loan move makes no sense for either Premier League club. Rugani is the type of player who needs to be nurtured and groomed over the next couple of years, and top clubs aren't in the business of doing that for other European heavyweights. The Red Devils may well contact Juventus in January, but a deal seems almost impossible.

Red Devils Looking at Mario Gomez?

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Turkish news outlet Fanatik (h/t talkSPORT) claimed that United are looking at forward Mario Gomez as a January transfer target after the German's superb start to the 2015-16 campaign with Besiktas.

The former Bayern Munich man has scored nine goals in 15 matches and could be an immediate-impact signing at a position of need for the club. Manager Louis van Gaal is familiar with the 30-year-old, having worked with him while he managed the Bavarians.

While the links with Gomez may seem a little odd at first, the move would actually make a lot of sense for the Red Devils. Gomez is an experienced, prolific striker who could be available for a minimal investment in January.

Clubs are often forced to spend well over market value to fill a need during the January window, and there are few options at the striker position who actually look like they might move this year. It makes no sense bidding for the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller or Karim Benzema―these players won't be made available by their respective clubs.

Gomez might be, and after a rough two-year period with Fiorentina, he seems to have rediscovered his passion for football, and his scoring touch with it. The German is still just 30 years old and has plenty of football left in him.

With Wayne Rooney struggling for form and Anthony Martial impressing in all areas but scoring, the Red Devils are desperate for another striker, and Gomez could be a very underrated January pickup who would at the very least provide valuable cover and an alternative for Rooney.

There's one problem, however. While Fanatik's report claims United are convinced they can present Besiktas with an offer the Turks couldn't refuse, Gomez is still owned by Fiorentina and is only on loan with Besiktas.

Fiorentina would undoubtedly be open to a sale if the price is right, but the fact he's on loan with another club complicates any potential deal. An agreement would have to be made between Fiorentina and Besiktas before United could swoop in, and while that doesn't have to be a deal-breaker, it does make this transfer a little less likely.

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