Manchester United Transfer News: Koke Swap Rumours, Yacine Brahimi Latest

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal will look to bolster his midfield options in the summer transfer window, with reports suggesting that the Red Devils will swoop for Atletico Madrid’s Koke and Porto’s Yacine Brahimi.

The Old Trafford outfit have yet to click into gear this season, resembling a set of fractious components rather that a fluid, functional team. But it seems that won’t prevent Van Gaal adding to his ranks come the end of the campaign, and Koke who would represent an intriguing acquisition.

Michael Regan/Getty Images

According to the Sun on Sunday (ht/ Simon Osborn of Metro) United will use Juan Mata as part of a bid to lure the 22-year-old star to Manchester. Koke—who remains a target for Manchester City and Chelsea, per Osborn’s piece—has established himself as one of La Liga’s finest midfield men under the tutelage of Diego Simeone.

Here are the attributes he would bring to this United team:

The young Spaniard is a wonderful manipulator of the ball and would bring a serene assurance to this United midfield. He’s young, improving and adaptable, and his creative output in the final third is magnificent too, per MisterChip:

Mata has impressed in flashes since Van Gaal has been in the Red Devils hot seat but hasn’t been able to nail down a spot in the first XI on a consistent basis. He’s a talented player and in the right system is a world-class talent but doesn’t boast an intensity off the ball, something paramount to Simeone’s team.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

A swap deal would be a major coup for United, but it’s difficult to see it happening, especially involving a player like Mata. Koke is a Rojiblanco born and bred, and as such he’ll be keen to stay at Atletico while they’re one of the very best sides in Europe. If United want him, you suspect they’ll have to bid a sizeable amount and offer a very lucrative salary package.

If Koke isn’t a feasible option, Van Gaal may just turn his attentions elsewhere. According to Fichajes.net (h/t Jamie Sanderson of Metro) that could lead United to Brahimi, as they get set to bid £29.5 million for the Algeria star.

Alvaro Barrientos/Associated Press

Here’s a look at the kind of talents he could bring to Old Trafford:

According to the piece, Manchester City are also big admirers of the 25-year-old, who has been magnificent for Porto in the Portuguese top flight so far this season. His flamboyant style of play makes him extremely difficult to pin down, and as his 10 goals from 25 appearances illustrate, per Sanderson, he’s a pretty composed finisher, too.

Tancredi Palmieri of beIN Sports claims that a meeting between the player and United’s city rivals has already taken place, however:

Brahimi’s enticing trickery and direct mentality would give the Red Devils a different edge to their offensive forays. But there would naturally be some questions as to whether or not a player of his type can cut it on the robust landscape of the Premier League.

The Portuguese league can occasionally be quite forgiving, especially compared to the cutthroat reputation of English football, but as we can see here courtesy of WhoScored, the Algerian starlet has also shone in the Champions League:

A fee of around £30 million is very pricey, however. Brahimi still has a capricious edge to his play, which means he’s a bracket below the world-class wide players. The big clubs will come calling this summer, but the Estadio Dragao remains the best environment for him to continue refining his undeniable but raw talent for the time being.