Manchester United Transfer News: Major Dani Alves and Sergio Ramos Rumours

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal will attempt to pull off a La Liga coup this year after it emerged the club is stepping up its interests in Dani Alves and Sergio Ramos.

It is being reported by Anthony Chapman of the Daily Express that recent United acquisition and former Barca staple Victor Valdes will be a factor in convincing Alves to sign for free when his contract expires this summer:

"

The United boss is well aware of Chelsea and Arsenal's interest in the 31-year-old, and is keen to wrap up a pre-contract agreement as quickly as possible.

And with other transfer targets to work on before the transfer window shuts, Van Gaal will ask Valdes to convince Alves to choose Old Trafford over Stamford Bridge and the Emirates.

"

The Blaugrana right-back is free to pen a pre-contract agreement after entering the final six months of his current deal, with interest now growing amid his apparent availability and no extension yet in sight.

Alves' agent (and ex-wife), Dinorah Santa Ana, has teased the possibility of an exit from the Camp Nou, quoted by Goal.com (h/t Spanish newspaper Sport) as saying he may not pen new terms: "Dani could renew, but if he has to go to another [club], he will go. There is interest from other clubs. He will give everything while he is [at Barca], but I can't say more than that. We'd like to stay, but we'll see."

David Ramos/Getty Images

Presumably, the club holds misgivings about handing the 31-year-old a new deal, especially given that he's one of the best-paid members of the team and turns 32 toward the end of this season.

Despite appearing past his peak in recent years, Alves has been an iconic member of this Barcelona squad, and Goal breaks down just what an incredibly creative part of the team he's been since arriving from Sevilla in 2008:

He's not the only member of Luis Enrique's side the Red Devils are interested in, however. There have been reports United's new kit deal with Adidas could play a role in luring Lionel Messi to Old Trafford, but Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe claims such hopes are empty:

The same might not be said in Ramos' case, though, and after rejecting the initial offer of a new long-term deal at Real Madrid, the defender's future has been cast in some doubt.

Ramos met with Los Merengues' President Florentino Perez this week and was unhappy with the salary offered in his new contract, per Ben Jefferson of the Daily Express.

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

The Spanish international's current deal doesn't run out until 2017, but if he is to agree on new terms, Ramos wants to sit alongside the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Iker Casillas as one of the squad's best-paid members.

Jefferson also quotes the centre-back as recently stating his admiration for the English top flight in the wake of what he felt was poor refereeing in La Liga, intensifying speculation that he could come to the Premier League:

"

I'm not going to talk about controversial issues and certainly not that incident. The only thing I will say is that, with every passing day, I prefer the English Premier League.

What am I talking about? Obviously not about the ball-boys...the style of play, refereeing. People enjoy watching that competition. When one loses, it's easy to focus on the refereeing decisions.

"

It's a statement that, in the given context, can't be taken too seriously as any sort of transfer plea, but this recent "fury" with Perez may lead him to examine his options further.

As well as being a star defender at the Bernabeu, Ramos has also picked up form in front of the opposition's goal, too, per WhoScored.com:

It goes without saying that Van Gaal could use a figure of his quality at central defence, with Jonny Evans, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling among the manager's less reliable players this season.

It's well-founded that the departures of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand have left a distinct void in class and experience at United's core, with David De Gea being leaned upon to save the club in patches.

Ramos would certainly add that class, but with Real under no immediate pressure to sell, it's likely that Ramos would require a substantial fee to acquire.

For now, United will merely bide their time and watch as the contract negotiations transpire, waiting in the wings should their target give the slightest hint that he's seeking a Bernabeu exit.