Manchester United Transfer News: World Cup Stars Targeted by Louis van Gaal
Louis van Gaal will have one priority firmly set in his mind at this summer's World Cup, and that's ensuring his Netherlands side emerge from Brazil as champions.
However, the Oranje boss may indeed hold his impending duties as Manchester United manager as priority, too, making the tournament an ideal, first-hand scouting opportunity.
Latest speculation sees the Red Devils linked with talent from both within Van Gaal's Dutch squad and outside of it, but fans will be pleased to see that all those rumoured are of a World Cup standard.
TOP NEWS
16-Year-Old Makes USMNT ๐บ๐ธ
Carrick Replacement Candidates ๐
Messi Farewell Match Set ๐ฆ๐ท
Daryl Janmaat, Feyenoord and Netherlands
Numerous upstarts among the current Netherlands squad have been a pleasant surprise to see impress so much in Brazil this past fortnight, a contingent among which Daryl Janmaat numbers.
And according to theย Daily Mail's Simon Jones, Van Gaal will now look to bring the right-back with him to Old Trafford.
The Feyenoord defender has just a year left to run on his deal with the Eredivisie club and, when speaking to HeldenOnline.nl (h/tย FourFourTwo) earlier this month, hinted that he could well depart this summer:
"I want to play at high levels.ย I do not care where I'm going to play, the important thing for me will be joining a great team with players who will always give their best.ย Now, however, I do not think about the market. At this moment in my head there's only the World Cup.
"
United will undoubtedly see Janmaat's intentions as an opportunity to strike up a deal for the Dutchman, who would offer competition for the likes of Rafael and Chris Smalling.
Arturo Vidal, Chile and Juventus
Manchester United are no longer the only Premier League giants in the hunt for Arturo Vidal's signature after it emerged that Arsenal are looking to cut a ยฃ44 million deal for the Juventus anchorman.
Chisanga Malata of theย Daily Star quotes Van Gaal in voicing his admiration of the Chilean international earlier this month, saying:ย "I always wanted to buy Vidal when he was at Bayer Leverkusen but he went to Juventus."
Jan Aage Fjortoft believes Vidal is one piece of United's puzzle in once again becoming Premier League title contenders:
Malata's report cites Italian sources in claiming that the Red Devils are prepared to offer ยฃ30 million for Vidal but also adds that Arsenal could be set to trump that with a bid of ยฃ44 million, which would break their own ยฃ42.5 million record fee paid for Mesut Ozil last summer.
Andre Ayew, Marseille and Ghana
Ghana may be out of the World Cup reckoning, but one Black Star who did impress during their three-game spell was the versatile Andre Ayew.
And theย Daily Star's Rhys Turrell has reported that United's attention was caught by the winger-cum-playmaker, who has just a year left on his contract at Marseille.
Earlier this month,ย Fabrice Lamperti, a French journalist working forย La Provence, toldย CalcioNapoli24.it (h/t SuperSport's Gary Al-Smith) that rumours of Napoli's interest in the Ghanaian international were true:
"This rumour is true.ย OM confirmed they were approached by Napoli emissaries for Andre Ayew, though at the moment no other details have emerged.ย Marseille absolutely need to recoup โฌ7 million before June 30 to wipe out their debts.
Andre Ayew has a contract with Marseille until June 30, 2015. The club needs to sell before June 30, 2014 to balance the books.ย At the moment there is just one concrete offer for Ayew that was not denied: Newcastle United put โฌ7 million on the table last summer.
Ayew had always said heโd prefer to play in the Premier League.
"
Ayew's name may not excite United fans as much as other superstar names linked with a move to Old Trafford, but a cut-price investment in the player's talents could still hold value.
