Manchester United Transfer Rumours: Predicting United's Final Summer Signing

Manchester United have been one of the busiest clubs on the planet during this summer's transfer window. Manager Sir Alex Ferguson managed to fill several major needs this summer, landing winger Ashley Young, defender Phil Jones and goalkeeper David de Gea, making his team younger and more talented in the process. 

But much has been made of what the defending Premiership champions plan to do in the centre of their midfield. United have been lacking a playmaking midfielder in the middle, and have failed to land targets Wesley Sneijder, Luka Modric or Samir Nasri this summer.

Initially, Ferguson told reporters that the club was finished chasing talent this summer, and that they would move forward with the talent already on the roster. 

But according to a Mirror Football report, rumours that United were in fact done this summer were greatly exaggerated. Chief executive David Gill told reporters on Tuesday that the Premiership juggernauts weren't done finding elite talent just yet. 

Per Gill's statements:

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"We are looking at one more player to bring in," Gill told MUTV.

"Nothing is happening and nothing is imminent but we will see what happens when we get home. There will still be 31 days of the transfer window to see if anything develops.

"The important point to understand, and Alex has made clear, is that we need someone who is going to improve the quality of the squad."

"We have a great squad and to get into that squad you need to be a world class player. If you can't get the players you want, there is no point buying someone for the sake of it. But you never know. There is often movement in August.

"I am not saying I am working on anything specific because I'm not. But that situation could change quickly when we get back to Carrington."

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Sounds pretty convincing that the Red Devils are going to be doing some shopping in the near future, doesn't it? But who will it be? 

The likeliest candidate remains Wesley Sneijder. The 27-year-old Dutch playmaker isn't actually for sale at Inter Milan, but can be grabbed for around £35 million. He would be a fantastic fit for United, with his balanced game and unparalleled playmaking and attacking skills out of the midfield. 

His wages are a major concern, but don't forget that there were reports two weeks ago that United had solved the wage issues, and had nearly completed a deal. 

Sneijder has said he's open to a move to Old Trafford, and given his skills, he'd be the perfect candidate. But he's hardly the only option United have at this stage. 

The Premiership champions have been kicking the tires on Brazilian standout Paulo Henrique Ganso as well as Sneijder, and the 20-year-old playmaking maestro would be a much higher-upside choice than Sneijder, even if the risk in grabbing him is also considerably higher. He's got some growing to do to live up to his potential, but it would hardly be the first time Ferguson has taken a talented youngster to polish him and turn him into a star. 

United have also been in the hunt for Roma's midfield dynamo, Daniele de Rossi, who is unhappy with the Italian club's contract negotiation.

While Roma's fans have been disappointed by the 27-year-old's play, particularly last season,  but the fact is that he's a versatile, balanced midfielder who can play an attacking role or a holding role, depending on what United need. He's a versatile option, and one who is still very much in play.

In the end, there's little doubt where United's new signing would play on the pitch, but there's plenty of doubt surrounding who. Gill made it a point not to discuss anything in the statement, and as long as the club play it close to the vest, we can't know for sure who they're after.

My money is on either Sneijder or De Rossi, but I don't see Ganso as being terribly far behind on the list. All three are likely being looked at by the club, and all three figure to be solid fits for United for the foreseeable future.