Manchester United Transfer News: Thomas Muller Deal Ordered, Latest Rumours

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has reportedly “ordered” the club’s hierarchy to splash £70.7 million to prise Thomas Muller away from Bayern Munich. But it looks as though the Red Devils will be rebuffed staunchly in any potential pursuit.

According to SportBild (h/t Jamie Sanderson of Metro), the United boss has told chief executive Ed Woodward to spend all of the club’s remaining budget on an attempt to land the German international. But the piece claims that the Bavarian giants will "resist the transfer all the way."

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Bayern’s desperation to keep hold of the forward was also reported by Bundesliga expert Jan Aage Fjortoft on Twitter:

In addition, Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has claimed it’d be no surprise if the 25-year-old forward remained at the Allianz Arena for the entirety of his career, per SportBild (h/t Peter McVitie of Goal.com):

"

I have the feeling that Thomas is at Bayern for life and will never leave. When Thomas one day ends his playing career, we would like to integrate him into the club in another role. He is totally comfortable in Munich. I do not think that our fans have to worry.

"

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

Muller would be another fantasy capture for the Old Trafford club. Although the forward doesn’t possess the speed, power or skill of some of the world’s best players, he’s one of the smartest forwards on the planet. His versatility, goalscoring instincts and intelligent interplay would certainly make him a marvellous addition.

As we can see here, courtesy of WhoScored.com, Muller is a creator of goals as well as a scorer of them:

It’d cap off what has been a prosperous transfer window for the Red Devils so far. Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe ran the rule over the significant business done by the club already:

But after selling Bastian Schweinsteiger to the Red Devils earlier this summer, it’d be a major surprise to see Muller depart the club too. The midfielder was a player steeped in Bayern history and a player fluent in the club’s iconic pageantry; he was a man the supporters could relate to, and Philipp Lahm aside, Muller is now the most popular figure among the fanbase.

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

As noted by Alex Shaw of ESPN, it’s not the first time Rummenigge has insisted that the forward is going nowhere, either:

While the reports from Germany seem reliable, the bid from United seems to have been made with a sense of hope rather than expectation. Nonetheless, Bleacher Report’s Rob Blanchette is very excited indeed by the prospect of any potential deal:

Van Gaal has openly admitted he’s looking for a player who is dynamic and pacey, per BBC Sport. For all of Muller’s attributes, he doesn’t quite fit that criteria. The Dutchman already has a multi-purpose, altruistic forward in the shape of Wayne Rooney and needs further spark at the sharp end of the pitch.

However, that’s not to say if a deal could be done for Muller, the Dutchman wouldn't be at the front of the queue to land him. Losing one player synonymous with the club already will be enough to stop Bayern entertaining the prospect of any deal, though.