Manchester United Transfer News: Reds Await Anderson Bids, Sergio Diaz Rumours

Manchester United's midfield misfit Anderson is yet to draw a single bid this winter, despite being up for sale the entire month of January, while the club are thought to be closing in on Paraguayan prodigy Sergio Diaz.

Anderson has played just 20 minutes of Premier League football this season and remains firmly lodged at the back of Louis van Gaal's plans, Ian Ladyman of the Daily Mail providing context of his Old Trafford limbo:

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The former Brazilian international is officially for sale, just as he has been virtually since David Moyes took over as United manager Sir Alex Ferguson in the early summer of 2013.

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While many clubs would understandably wish to wait until the summer when Anderson will be a free agent, he is available for a knock-down fee now and would certainly be allowed to go on loan.

However, it seems that clubs around Europe have been put off by stories of Anderson’s lifestyle and weight issues. At United he is privately lampooned, for example, for his liking for fast food.

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In effect, the Brazilian is merely picking up a wage at United these days, having failed to inspire during a spell on loan with Fiorentina in the latter half of the 2013-14 campaign.

Samuel Luckhurst outlines the poor financial prudence shown by the Red Devils when it comes to Anderson's case, especially considering Paul Pogba's rise to fame in Juventus' lineup since departing for Italy:

As Ladyman's report attests, a lack of professionalism may be at the core of just why Anderson is such an unwanted figure among European clubs, along with his arguably gratuitous wages.

At the end of November, Van Gaal was quoted by Joe Bernstein of the Daily Mail as saying a failure to achieve desired fitness levels was an influence in his absence, too:

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He’s now coming back. He was injured but he’s training now with the team. I cannot say what had happened last year but in my four months here, he’s had a lot of injuries. So I cannot judge him but when he trains he trains at a good level. He’s not always fit and that is more his problem now.

I can’t pick him now because you have to be fit. For the first three months the culture of a trainer is fitness. That is the smallest thing you can demand. Professional league fitness. Fitness is the most important thing. First you have to show your fitness. Not for just one day but for several weeks.

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It's mentioned that United may examine the prospect of paying up Anderson's contract and allow him to walk away for free, the worst-case scenario in realising the extent of his £20 million failure.

On the other hand, though, it would at least free up space on the club's wage bill and allow them to add another, superior player to the midfield, an area in need of strengthening.

Michael Regan/Getty Images

Given just how little football he's played over the past two seasons, it's difficult to envision Anderson ever realising his previous potential; if he does, it almost certainly won't be at Old Trafford.

As Bleacher Report pair Ryan Bailey and Sam Tighe recently discussed, Darren Fletcher is another midfielder poised to cut ties with the Red Devils, possibly as soon as this month:

From a failed wonderkid experiment to one United still hold belief in, the club is reported to have opened talks with Cerro Porteno regarding the acquisition of 16-year-old Diaz, according to Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb.com (h/t Metro's Jamie Sanderson), who adds that the Paraguayan giants are seeking a fee of £5.25 million for their forward.

It's an extravagant fee to pay out for one so young and raw, but with eight goals in his first 20 senior appearances for Los Gigantes, Diaz is clearly a gem among players his age.

Diaz is attracting interest from Portugal and Italy, too, according to David Amoyal, giving Van Gaal's side some competition to ponder in this pursuit:

At present, the club's forward line is stacked with options, attackers Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie, Radamel Falcao and James Wilson all struggling to fit in the same lineup.

However, Diaz would be an acquisition for the years to come and In Bed With Maradona rates the South American starlet as a seriously promising prospect:

United already have 20-year-old Angelo Henriquez out on loan at Dinamo Zagreb, where he's scored nine goals in 18 appearances altogether, per Transfermarkt.

Under Sir Alex Ferguson's tutelage, the Red Devils always had one eye fixed on the future in their transfer dealings and it would appear Van Gaal is eager to enthuse his own youth promotion at the club.