Manchester United Transfer News: Latest Paul Pogba and Radamel Falcao Rumours

Manchester United are ready to spend £77 million to bring Paul Pogba back to Old Trafford. That sort of outlay could affect the decision to turn Radamel Falcao's loan into a permanent deal, although that's a decision that reportedly will have to wait until the latter stages of this season.

Yet it's the interest in one-time United player Pogba that will generate the most attention. Daily Star reporter Alex Harris stated Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal will have the financial backing of the United board to spend big to land the French star.

Harris maintains it will take a mammoth offer to convince Juve to sell the player who tripled his wages during last summer. Of course, the irony here is that Pogba was once on the books at Old Trafford.

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However, he never fully endeared himself to then-manager Sir Alex Ferguson. That robbed United of the chance to let the powerful and skilled 21-year-old become the midfield lynchpin the team have lacked for so long.

Not since the days when Roy Keane meted out intimidation and retribution has the United midfield had a natural talisman. Instead, the Red Devils have had to watch Pogba develop into a world-class talent in Turin.

His list of admirers is extensive and illustrious. Back in the summer, ex-Arsenal colossus Patrick Vieira, a player Pogba is most often credited with emulating, heaped praise on his youthful countryman, per Dominic Fifield of the Guardian:

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People compare us but, where I would win more tackles, Paul is more technically gifted than I ever was, and far more at ease on the ball. I’d busy myself with defensive duties, but he is only looking to charge forward. He can be one of the best in the world.

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Vieira's view could be significant. He is currently employed by United's neighbours, Manchester City. The reigning Premier League champions are another club credited with a keen interest in signing Pogba.

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In December, the Citizens were said to be preparing a £40 million offer for the player, per the Daily Mail (h/t the Daily Mirror's Rob Burnett). City can certainly match United's financial power and rival their proposed, more lucrative offer.

However, a deal for Pogba seems close to United's current policy in the transfer market. It's a policy Manchester Evening News reporter Stuart Mathieson recently compared to Real Madrid's "Galacticos" model.

As perhaps the most well-regarded and complete midfielder at the top end of European football, Pogba certainly fits the bill.

Falcao is another marquee star whose future will concern United. He is currently plying his trade at Old Trafford under the auspices of an expensive loan deal between United and Ligue 1 side AS Monaco.

Come the end of the season Van Gaal will have a decision to make. He plans to start making it in April, according to Mail Online reporter Simon Jones.

In the end, this could turn out to be one of Van Gaal's easier decisions. That's because Falcao suddenly appears to have found his feet in the Premier League.

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The Colombian arrived at United not too far removed from a long-term ACL injury. Naturally, the 28-year-old took time to build up his fitness and adapt to the pace of top-level English football.

There were doubts about whether Falcao would ever achieve the former. Van Gaal strengthened those doubts when he appeared to suggest the striker could "only play for 20 minutes," per BBC Sport.

But Falcao has been a regular starter over the frenetic festive period. He was United's lone goalscorer in recent 1-1 away draws with Aston Villa and Stoke City.

For the season, Falcao has three goals and as many assists, per WhoScored.com. If he keeps his current form going, United will find it very hard to send one of the game's deadliest finishers back to France.

Van Gaal began his United career by spending a fortune last summer. If the latest reports are to be believed, that pattern won't change during the next two transfer windows.

With a possible Pogba bid, along with a permanent deal for Falcao on his radar, the Dutchman certainly seems to have the backing to carry on spending.