Manchester United Transfers: 5 Big Names Linked to Reds in Past Week

No matter how well the team is performing or the stage of the season, Manchester United will continue to be linked with big money transfers, week in, week out.

These past seven days have proved no different, as tabloids look to produce the most salacious gossip to sell copy.

Erik Lamela (pictured) is just one of the names recently linked with the Red Devils. This article will seek to wrap up the rest.

Whether or not any of the suggested transfers ever come to fruition is another story all together.

James Rodriguez

This past week does not mark the first time Manchester United have been linked with Porto's prodigious attacking midfielder James Rodriguez. Fans of the club have been aware of the apparent interest since before last summer.

That didn't stop the Daily Mail reporting that "United scouts watched Porto and Colombia star James Rodriguez against Rio Ave on Saturday as the club ponder a move for the winger."

Rodriguez has improved terrifically over the last few seasons, though a nasty hamstring injury has kept him out of action for a great deal of this current campaign.

He scored a stunning goal in this season's Champions League group stage to down Paris Saint-Germain 1-0, while also netting seven times in only 11 league appearances.

The Mail believes he could potentially cost as much as £36 million.

Marouane Fellaini

With Everton unlikely to achieve qualification for next term's Champions League, star player Marouane Fellaini could very well head for greener pastures at the season's end.

Once again, it's the Daily Mail who are on top of things, claiming that the Red Devils are currently embroiled in a four-way fight for the towering Belgian's signature.

"Everton face a battle to keep hold of Marouane Fellaini this summer after Real Madrid, Chelsea and both Manchester clubs expressed interest in the Belgian," the report claims.

Fellaini has been one of the standout players during the Premier League season, scoring an impressive 11 goals in his role as a second forward.

Though he may want out, the Toffees aren't usually a side who are willing to part with one of their prized assets on the cheap.

Cristiano Ronaldo

As Manchester United prepare to take on Real Madrid in the most hotly anticipated game of the season, side-rumours of a monumental transfer have grown.

Whispers that Cristiano Ronaldo could one day rejoin his old teammates at United have turned into suggestive headlines, with the Daily Star recently running a story that set the heartbeats of fans of the Red Devils racing.

"The 28-year-old [is] ready to quit the Bernabeu in the summer, with United the clear favourites to land his signature in a £55 million deal," it claimed.

But Sir Alex Ferguson has been quick to quash such talk, stating on Monday that "I don’t think there’s anything as far as I’m aware to encourage me that he’d come back here" (via ManUtd.com).

The Portuguese superstar may yet return to Old Trafford to join Fergie on his victory lap/farewell tour, but for now the odds are very slim on an imminent move.

Erik Lamela

After a mixed first season at Roma, Erik Lamela has begun showing the type of form that saw the Italian club pay River Plate over £12 million for his services in 2011.

This season, the tricky Argentinian has scored an impressive 11 goals in 19 Serie A appearances, including one in the fierce Derby della Capitale against Lazio.

The Corriere dello Sport claimed this past week that Sir Alex had expressed an interest in Lamela because of his similar attributes to a young Cristiano Ronaldo (h/t ManUtd.com)

Lamela's agent was quick to retort in an interview with Gazzetta Giallorossa though, stating "For the moment, there is no offer from Manchester United. Obviously I have a relationship with them but we have never discussed this particular topic" (h/t ManUtd.com)

For now, this is one link that may have to be put on ice.

Eliaquim Mangala

Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala has suddenly become a name on everyone's lips.

Earlier this month, Sky Sports interviewed the Frenchman, quizzing him on possible links between himself and Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.

"I have a contract here till June 2016, however all players want to play one day in the top league in Europe," he said. "I am no different to that.

"To be linked with clubs of the stature of Tottenham or Manchester United is the best feeling."

Mangala has been a regular in the Portuguese side that has progressed to the last 16 of the Champions League.

Do you believe there is much truth in any of these reports? Who would you like to see join United in the summer?

Follow @MaxBentleyTowle