Manchester United Transfer News: Fresh Sergio Busquets, Romelu Lukaku Rumours

Manchester United are reportedly poised to capitalise should contract negotiations between Barcelona and Sergio Busquets continue to drag on.  

According Spanish outlet Fichajes (h/t Jamie Anderson of the Daily Star), the midfielder is seeking a bump in salary, one that would see him earn around £200,000 per week. The Spain international has a contract that runs until 2019 and is said to be in talks about an extension; however, according to Anderson, Busquets is holding out until his demands are met: “Barcelona have yet to respond to his request, and United are poised to pounce if negotiations break down.”

Here’s what the Red Devils would be getting if they could bring him to the club:

While understated in his play, the 27-year-old has been a central figure in Barcelona’s recent successes.

At the base of the team’s midfield, Busquets’ willingness to take possession in tight positions, play incisive passes forward and dictate the tempo of a match is central to the way they play. This season, he’s been wonderful overall, with Barcelona dominating in La Liga and in the UEFA Champions League for much of the 2015-16 campaign.

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Barney Ronay of the Guardian noted there are plenty of teams in the Premier League who would benefit from his influence:

United are definitely one. While the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Michael Carrick are decent deep distributors, neither are on Busquets’ level. The Barca man’s defensive awareness and timing in the tackle would also bring a structure to the team from which they can improve their attacking forays forward.

Barcelona will not want to let Busquets depart, though. To have a player in the squad who is not only so vital to the blueprint, but who has come through the club’s academy and is immersed in the culture, is so important. The midfielder deserves to be among the top earners at the Camp Nou and will surely be paid in keeping with that.

Romelu Lukaku Favours Manchester United Move

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According to the Daily Telegraph (h/t David Wright of the Daily Express), Everton striker Romelu Lukaku favours a move to Manchester United over Chelsea this summer.

The Blues look set to miss out on European football next season, and according to Wright, that could prove crucial in the Belgium international’s decision when it comes to his long-term future. It’s noted United are willing to spend more than the Londoners on the player, too—a whopping £55 million—because Chelsea sold Lukaku to the Toffees for £28 million in 2014.

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The former Chelsea man fits the bill for the Red Devils. Lukaku is a forward who is already an established Premier League goalscorer, and this campaign, he’s made sharp refinements to his game. But there is still significant room for improvement, too, and Old Trafford could well be the venue for him to achieve his full potential.

The OptaJean Twitter feed noted just how much he’s achieved so far in his relatively short career:

United may have Anthony Martial, Wayne Rooney and Marcus Rashford already, although the prospect of getting Lukaku in is one that should excite fans. This is a player who has been emboldened this season, and with a more regular stream of attacking support, he could be even more of a force at the point of the attack.

Everton are renowned for their stubbornness when it comes to selling players, although given they’re currently languishing down in the bottom half of the table, it’d be very difficult to keep the player contented should he wish to leave. United, if they can take advantage of the situation, could acquire one of the finest strikers in world football.