Manchester United Transfer News: Latest on Dani Alves and January Targets
If anyone out there believes that Manchester United's shopping spree is over after their astronomical summer splurge, think again.
The Red Devils flexed their financial muscle during the recent transfer window by signing some of the game's brightest talents, but a few lacklustre performances this season prove that investments still need to be made—particularly at the back.
And unsurprisingly, that's where manager Louis van Gaal is focusing his attention, with Barcelona's Dani Alves seemingly top of his wish list.
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The Brazilian right-back looked odds on to leave the Nou Camp during the summer, and while he just about managed to cling on to the red and blue shirt, it seems 2014/15 will be his curtain call in Catalonia.
According to Chisanga Malata of the Daily Star, United have agreed a deal to bring the 31-year-old to Old Trafford in the summer on a free transfer, with his contract with Barcelona expiring at the end of the current campaign.
FIFA agent Francois Gallardo broke the news, as he confirmed that everything in place for Alves to switch to the Premier League—via Malata:
"The player will leave Barcelona next season. He has signed a preliminary agreement with Manchester United."
While Alves can be uttered in the same sentence as the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi as one of those who changed the dynamic of football, there's a reason why Barca aren't scrambling to get him to sign on the dotted line.
The Brazilian is well into the winter of his career, and a few shaky performances already this season have suggested that the ceremonial boot hang-up isn't too far away, particularly with the talented Martin Montoya waiting in the wings to make Alves' position his own.
So why exactly would Manchester United be interested in taking him in?
When the summer rolls around, Alves will be 32 and a decrepit old man in top-level football terms, and if his displays on the pitch aren't good enough for Barca, why would they be acceptable at United?
That's something that performer Lloyd Cole agrees with, too, saying that capturing the Brazilian would only be good for United's rivals, not the club themselves:
The Red Devils have Rafael who, admittedly, is still a work in progress, and the likes of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling who can fill in at right-back, so where does Alves slot in?
It appears he's just another big name to add to the growing list of superstars who call Old Trafford home, which is far from the solution to United's growing list of defensive problems.
However, the next target on Van Gaal's radar could well be.
Stoke City's Ryan Shawcross began his career in United’s academy, but it wasn't until he left Old Trafford that the 27-year-old really found himself and he's been attracting attention from big clubs ever since.
The Red Devils are in desperate need of a solid centre-back, and according to Alex Harris of the Daily Star, they are doing all in their power to lure Shawcross home.
The defender is hardly the most glamorous of players, and this is certainly not a signing that's going to enhance shirt sales, but what he does bring to the cause is a level of consistency.
Stoke have built their Premier League reputation on being hard to beat, and it's safe to say that Shawcross has been at the heart of that.
Just one international cap is almost an insult to the Englishman's level of brilliance, and BBC Sport's Jake Humphrey believes that with a switch to United, more chances with the Three Lions will come:
However, luring Shawcross to Old Trafford looks like a tough task, as Stoke manager Mark Hughes issued a hands-off warning to his former employers regarding the defender’s future—per Phil Medlicott of The Independent:
"There's been no contact and I don't expect there to be any, and we wouldn't encourage any contact anyway. Ryan is very settled here, he is the captain of the club and we have no intention of allowing him to leave. He's a big part of what we want to do in the future.
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It seems that United are going to have to rely on Shawcross himself to demand a move back to the club that raised him, but just how likely that is remains to be seen.
However, the fact that the link is there will bring encouragement to United fans, who are desperate to see some defensive cover head to the Theatre of Dreams.
If there's one thing we can be certain of this season, it's that United will splash even more cash in January, but they need the kind of quality that will fire them back to English football's throne, not just another shirt-seller.
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