Manchester United Transfer News: Latest on Roberto Firmino and Christoph Kramer

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal hasn't finished tinkering with his team's attack. He is ready to add Brazilian sensation Roberto Firmino alongside the likes of Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Angel Di Maria.

Fortunately for United fans, Van Gaal also seems mindful of the club's current defensive woes. He is ready to offset them with a two-fold approach that could involve Premier League centre-back Winston Reid and Germany midfield enforcer Christoph Kramer.

The United transfer news round-up starts with Firmino. Van Gaal has reportedly had an offer accepted for the Hoffenheim forward, according to Daily Express reporter Anthony Chapman:

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According to reports in Spain, the Red Devils have had an offer of £20m accepted by his club Hoffenheim, and the Brazilian will put pen-to-paper on a long-term deal ahead of the January transfer window.

Firmino, an attacking midfielder who can also ply his trade on the wing, had been attracting interest from numerous teams across Europe, but now looks likely to become Louis Van Gaal's first signing of the winter.

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Chapman suggests United have beaten Premier League rivals such as Arsenal and Liverpool to this deal. Despite already ample reserves of talent in attack, signing Firmino would represent something of a coup for United.

He is a mercurial attacker with a real flair for creativity. The 23-year-old notched 11 assists in the Bundesliga last season and already has three this term, per WhoScored.com.

Improving the supply to Rooney and Van Persie is something Van Gaal has to get right. Firmino could certainly help him do that.

Adding another attacker could become pertinent for a few reasons, most notably the uncertainty surrounding the futures of two United players. First, crocked Colombian striker Radamel Falcao has to prove he can stay fit or else United won't turn his loan into a permanent deal, per Daily Mirror reporter John Cross:

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Radamel Falcao is on a special fitness drive as Manchester United delay committing to a permanent £43.5million deal.

[...] Falcao - left out of Colombia's two friendlies this week - is expected to miss United’s next game against Arsenal on Saturday week with a calf injury and faces a make-or-break two-month period which is likely to decide his fate.

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Falcao may not be the only forward-thinking player headed for the exit door at Old Trafford. Midfield schemer Juan Mata could make a return to La Liga.

That's according to Daily Express reporter Jamie Anderson, who cites reports in Spain claiming Mata's old club Valencia, along with Atletico Madrid, want the playmaker.

United selling either one of Mata or Falcao would certainly create room for Firmino. He is a rising talent, with the technical quality and natural ingenuity to be a major hit in the Premier League.

Yet with issues at the base of midfield and particularly in defence, Red Devils fans may believe Van Gaal's money should be spent elsewhere. One player who could help is Kramer.

The 23-year-old Germany international is a combative midfielder who will press and harry the opposition and never stop making tackles. That makes Kramer the kind of player Van Gaal needs, not only to protect his ailing defence but also make his preferred pressing game work.

United's lack of a credibly rugged defensive midfielder has been exposed this season. Former Ajax man Daley Blind is more of a steady, deep-lying playmaker than a natural destroyer.

Meanwhile, the Old Trafford injury bug has struck again to take away Van Gaal's only natural midfield anchor, per Manchester Evening News reporter Rob Dawson:

United would reportedly have to battle several Premier League rivals for Kramer's signature, but the player would welcome a move to England, per Daily Star reporter Alex Harris:

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The Premier League rivals are likely to now firm up their interest in Kramer after he revealed to the Berliner Morgenpost newspaper that he is eager to move abroad.

"That has always interested me," he said. "I would not be afraid of (going abroad)."

"I want to find out what my limit is and I always strive for the very best."

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United definitely need a player at the base of midfield who can give Di Maria, Rooney and Co. the platform to fully exploit teams going forward. Kramer could be the ideal answer.

Of course, Van Gaal's squad also needs a centre-back or two. Injuries to players such as Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones, as well as a suspension for Chris Smalling, have stretched United's options at the back.

That could change if Van Gaal decides to cash in on Winston Reid's contract status in January. The West Ham United defender will be sold during the winter window if he can't agree a new deal, per Gary Jacob of The Times (subscription required).

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As perhaps the most central defender-needy team in the Premier League, that is likely to land Reid on United's radar, although Van Gaal could still look elsewhere, per Daily Mirror reporter Liam Prenderville:

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Meanwhile, United are still in the hunt having seen their backline ravaged by injury this term.

Reid would appear a much cheaper option to first-choice Mats Hummels, with Aston Villa's Ron Vlaar also being considered.

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Like Reid, Vlaar's contract is also up next summer. However, Aston Villa don't plan to offload the beefy Dutchman early, according to Daily Mirror writer James Nursey.

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That could put Reid at the top of Van Gaal's list, despite the United gaffer's familiarity with Vlaar from his time in charge of the Netherlands. One note of caution with both Reid and Vlaar is their own chequered injury records.

Both have struggled to play consistently during recent seasons. Given their ongoing injury problems, the last thing United need is yet more brittle defenders joining the queue for the treatment room.

Van Gaal is still working to completely overhaul the ageing and bloated squad he inherited from predecessors David Moyes and Sir Alex Ferguson. The Dutchman's version of United needs some balance, making both Reid and Kramer sensible targets.

However, that shouldn't rule out snapping up a creative ace as talented as Firmino if United can pull the deal off.