Manchester United Transfer News: Latest on Mega Deals Planned by Louis Van Gaal
Louis van Gaal’s mission to rebuild the empire of Manchester United is a work in progress but there's still plenty that needs to be done before the club’s status of a football superpower returns on the pitch.
The recent summer transfer window saw the Red Devils splurge like never before, and if that’s anything to go by, yet more financial records could be broken in January.
Van Gaal’s attention will likely turn to his shaky back line in the New Year, and here are two stars he’ll be hoping will pull the red shirt on as the glory days edge ever closer to returning to Old Trafford.
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Ezequiel Garay
If you’ve watched Manchester United this season then you’ll know this: they’re incredibly top heavy.
The additions of Angel di Maria and Radamel Falcao to their already explosive front line has given the Red Devils one of the most feared strike forces in the Premier League, but that couldn’t be further from the case at the back.
Teams are lining up against United knowing that outscoring them is a real possibility, and it’s no surprise to see Van Gaal targeting one of the world’s best centre-backs in his bid to solidify the defence.
According to Martin Lipton and David McDonnell of the Daily Mirror, the Dutch manger has identified Argentinian Ezequiel Garay as the man to plug the holes in his leaky defence, although his signature will come at a price.
Garay only signed for Zenit St. Petersburg in the summer for £12 million, and the Russian outfit are unlikely to let their new star leave without turning over a healthy profit.
However, it seems that United are willing to part with whatever it takes to lure the 28-year-old to Old Trafford, having missed out on him a few months back.
Garay has reportedly been a long-term target of Van Gaal, but his switch to Russia went through before the Dutchman took the reins in Manchester.
His admiration doesn’t come without reason, either, as the Argentinian has proven down the years that he’s more than worthy of having a defence built around him.
His awareness, vision and aerial ability (at both ends) make him an ideal addition to the United cause, and Kevin Palmer of the Sunday World believes that if his signing doesn’t come in January, the season will pass the Red Devils by:
"Daily Mirror going big on United making a move for Ezequiel Garay in the January window. Cannot wait until next summer for a defender #MUFC
— Kevin Palmer (@kpsundayworld) October 24, 2014"
United aren’t short of personnel at centre-back, with the likes of Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans all still vying for a place in the side, but unless they begin to gel and put together strong performances, United’s chances of finishing in the top four will diminish.
What United are seriously lacking is a leader—a player to take charge and organise the back line—and that’s exactly what Garay is.
It’s likely to take a gruelling amount of negotiations and an over-the-odds payment to get the 28-year-old in red, but it could prove worth it.
Victor Valdes
Linked with bitter rivals Liverpool for some time, goalkeeper Victor Valdes’ name has suddenly popped up in the Manchester United rumour mill.
The former Barcelona stopper is a free agent after his contract expired at the Camp Nou in the summer, but it’s clear that he can still offer a lot at the highest level—something that WhoScored.com’s statistics support:
It’s emerged that Valdes has been training with United, thus ending the link with Liverpool, and Van Gaal recently refused to rule out the 32-year-old putting pen to paper at Old Trafford in a press conference.
As the Press Association (h/t The Guardian) revealed, when the Dutchman was asked whether he’d consider signing the Spaniard if he returned to fitness, he responded:
“Manchester United always have their eyes open.”
The signing may strike fans as a strange one with David de Gea seemingly in the form of his life but what Valdes offers is a great deal of experience, and he can use that to nurture De Gea into one of the world’s top stoppers.
Life isn’t easy being a United fan at the moment, but Van Gaal’s willingness to invest in the side’s weakest areas will bring supporters plenty of encouragement.
Should the experience of Garay and Valdes come in, United will have a strong platform from which to build at the back, finally giving them the credentials of a Champions League side.
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