Manchester United Transfer News: Xherdan Shaqiri Bid Eyed, Memphis Depay Latest

Manchester United look set to make moves for prodigious talents Xherdan Shaqiri and Memphis Depay, once the January transfer window opens.

Nick Lustig of the Daily Star says Louis van Gaal will bid for Shaqiri and is preparing an £18 million offer for the Bayern Munich attacker, who has been a long-term target of Liverpool.

Lustig says Brendan Rodgers was close to completing the signing of the highly rated Shaqiri last summer, but the German champions opted to keep the player in the Bundesliga.

But with minimal playing time under his belt this campaign, Shaqiri is said to be "unhappy at the lack of playing time he has received," and now is considering his immediate options, per Lustig.

101 Great Goals provides Bild's take on the player's situation, declaring Pep Guardiola no longer wants the player and has told the Swiss international his days are numbered:

Van Gaal's move for Shaqiri would be viewed as strange by many considering United's abundance of riches in the last third of the pitch. 

If United are successful in luring the 23-year-old to Old Trafford, the move would call into question the futures of many of the Red Devils' attackers—specifically Juan Mata.

But Shaqiri can fulfil a wider role than Mata and Wayne Rooney, and he could be viewed as a direct replacement for Nani, who is performing well on-loan at Sporting Lisbon.

Another player LvG is looking to add to his squad is Memphis Depay, who can also play as a winger and would surely oust Ashley Young from United's squad.

Peter Dejong/Associated Press

Colin Harvey of the Daily Star quotes former Holland international Jan Mulder, who believes Depay will force his way out of PSV Eindhoven in the near future to head for the riches of the Premier League, with United or Tottenham his possible destinations:

"

You know what I think? The ultimate objective and the dream of a player is not the Dutch national team, but the big money. And they don't even have to apologise for that. I don't know how I would fare if I could have earned so much money.

I would have been susceptible to that too I guess. If you have set yourself up for the rest of your life with just a signature, as Depay will soon, then you think that, even if subconsciously, I think.

"

Depay has been in electric form in the past 12 months and has started the current season in explosive fashion. At the World Cup, Bleacher Report highlighted him as one of the "unknown stars" to look out for, and Depay proved this with his two goals from four appearances, per WhoScored.com:

This season, Depay has been scoring goals for fun for PSV and has hit the target an outstanding nine times in his 10 Eredivisie and Europa League appearances, per WhoScored.

But much like Shaqiri, Depay's capture would raise eyebrows at Old Trafford—given United's overriding need in the defensive positions.

Daley Blind's recent knee injury has further limited LvG's options—the Dutch international recently played as a makeshift centre-back for United—and the manager will surely be looking to sign defenders, rather than attackers.

But both Shaqiri and Depay are great young players and if LvG is taking a more holistic approach to his squad, rather than a reactionary one, both young individuals would be fine captures. United certainly still have problems in the winger position and these two players would help solve this riddle.

Depay especially would be a shrewd signing. His stock has exploded this year and he seems to be improving every month. Van Gaal knows the player well and he would integrate well into life at Carrington under his former boss.