Manchester United Transfer News: Major Fernando Llorente, Sergio Romero Rumours
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has caused havoc in the press by suggesting the Red Devils are ready to sign a forward not currently linked with the club. Speculation has gone wild, but at this point, David McDonnell of the Mirror believes Juventus' Fernando Llorente is the mystery man.
"It's not the striker the media has written," said the Dutchman prior to United's 3-1 win over San Jose Earthquakes, reported McDonnell. "But you have to wait and see."
McDonnell believes United have asked to be "kept informed" of Llorente's situation. Tuttosport (h/t Tom Conn of Inside Spanish Football) noted Llorente has already dismissed offers from "Monaco, Porto and several other English Premier League sides" as he waits for Real Madrid to make their supposed interest concrete.
Llorente hasn't enjoyed spectacular form in recent times, but at 6'5" he is more than built for the Premier League.
He scored seven goals in 31 Serie A opportunities last season after hitting a more than respectable 16 in 34 during his debut campaign for the Old Lady, per WhoScored.com. Llorente is an effective hold-up player and a warrior in the box, where he could be stationed to benefit from United's delivery from the flanks.
Juve no longer need the Spaniard—Alvaro Morata, Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic make up their versatile attacking options—so Llorente is likely the one who will make way. He would certainly add unique qualities to United's front line, but his arrival would be underwhelming for supporters who are expecting Van Gaal to deliver a superstar.
Speaking after goals from Juan Mata, Memphis Depay and Andreas Pereira led United to victory over San Jose, Van Gaal even suggested the incoming addition won't be a traditional striker. "I have read in the media a striker is the surprise," he said, reported by Sam Lee of Goal.com. "That's not right. It's something else."
Mundo Deportivo (h/t Simon Bajkowski of the Manchester Evening News) linked versatile Barcelona forward Pedro Rodriguez to the club, while Sky Sports noted United legend Cristiano Ronaldo, plus his Madrid team-mate Gareth Bale and Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann have all been speculated in recent times. None of these names can be considered strikers in the traditional sense.
The waiting game will be a nervy one for fans, who are eager to see United's current options of Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez and James Wilson bolstered.
The club may be discussing a three-year deal with goalkeeper Sergio Romero to quickly overcome Victor Valdes' likely departure, as reported by Simon Jones of the MailOnline. However, things aren't moving so quickly in the hunt for a new goal machine.
This is all playing out alongside continued rumblings Angel Di Maria is on his way to Paris Saint-Germain, reported Adrian Kajumba of the Mirror, who indicated Bayern Munich's Thomas Muller could be landed as his replacement.
B/R UK's Andy Brassell recently discussed whether Pedro could make up for the loss of the Argentinian at Old Trafford:
Van Gaal has the press waiting on his every word right now. A selection of attacking names will be linked to the club between now and the moment a new signing is paraded in front of journalists. United are preparing to do battle across four competitions next season and simply cannot afford to rely on Rooney, Hernandez and Wilson.
The boss appears to know this, but as ever with Van Gaal, it remains difficult to pinpoint his exact strategy.
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