Manchester United Transfer Rumours: Latest on Cesc Fabregas and More Top Targets

Manchester United are gearing up for a new era with David Moyes at the helm, and they appear poised to enter that era with a little extra help to aid in the pursuit of another Premier League title.

As the summer transfer period continues, rumours are becoming more and more persistent. Many of those rumours involve United—a club often willing to dole out big money for the biggest names on the market.

Let’s take a look at the latest on a couple of those names, as well as the most recent developments involving embattled United striker Wayne Rooney.

Gareth Bale

Tottenham Hotspurs superstar Gareth Bale has long been rumoured to make a potential move from White Hart Lane this summer, and while he remains at Spurs this deep into the transfer period, Manchester United aren’t done trying to steal him away.

According to Oliver Holt of the Daily Mirror, the Red Devils are preparing to make a £60 million bid to acquire him:

"

Manchester United are making a massive £60million bid for Gareth Bale.

Premier League champions United want Tottenham star Bale to be the first major signing of new manager David Moyes' reign.

"

Signing Bale would certainly be a tremendous way to start things off. With Real Madrid reportedly backing off their pursuit of the winger, per Tony Little of The Sun, United appear the only realistic suitors in pursuit of Bale.

Still, Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas is intent on keeping his superstar at White Hart Lane going forward, and it will likely take more than £60 million to change his mind. Consider this rumour a work in progress.

 

Cesc Fabregas

With Bale looking to be a long shot at this point, United may be better suited putting their efforts toward more reasonable targets.

According to David McDonnell of the Daily Mirror, the Red Devils are doing just that, poised to make an increased offer for Barcelona star Cesc Fabregas after two rejected bids:

"

Manchester United will make a third and final bid of £34million for Barcelona’s Cesc Fabregas.

United will go back in with a club record offer after the Spanish ­champions rejected the first two bids of £26m and £30m.

"

£34 million is a hefty sum for the midfielder, and it seems unlikely United would be willing to further increase their offer should Barcelona once again reject the bid. But with the transfer market appearing drier by the second, it makes sense the club would feel the need to perhaps overspend for Fabregas.

Barca president Sandro Rosell is intent on keeping Fabregas as a “key part” of his project, per McDonnell, but a £34 million offer would have to be tempting.

For United, doling out that cash for Fabregas will be much easier to swallow if Rooney does see his way out at Old Trafford.

 

Wayne Rooney

The Rooney saga continues to drag on, and one has to wonder at what point it will end with his exit from Old Trafford.

Chelsea are in hot pursuit of the striker, and according to Jason Burt and Mark Ogden of The Telegraph, the Blues are offering £40 million to acquire him:

"

Chelsea are discussing what they consider would be a ‘knockout’ £40 million bid to sign Wayne Rooney. The offer would be vastly higher than their opening bid of under £25 million, which was flatly rejected by Manchester United, who insist the unsettled striker is not for sale.

"

United obviously aren’t going to openly shop Rooney given his tremendous value on the transfer market, but it wouldn’t be a surprise for the Red Devils to pull the trigger on a £40 million offer. With a return like that, United could step up their efforts in pursuit of Bale or Fabregas and eliminate an issue that has been causing contention in recent months.

The situation is certainly fluid, but Chelsea seem to be inching closer to offering what United would have to accept for Rooney.