Manchester United Transfer News: Major Stars Eyed by Louis Van Gaal, Top Rumours

You’d think the summer transfer window closing would have brought an end to the torrential, almost painful rumours...but you’d be wrong.

Manchester United have been linked with just about every footballer ever to lace up a pair of boots over the last few months, and yet the media has somehow dug out even more for us to enjoy as the January window edges ever closer—anyone counting down the seconds?

The first player reportedly on cash-happy manager Louis van Gaal’s radar is Lazio’s Lucas Biglia, who refused to sign a new contract with the Serie A club according to Calciomercato—via Joe Short of the Daily Express.

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The 29-year-old midfielder was offered a £1.8 million-per-year contract by Lazio, but he’s said to be holding out for £2.2 million annually.

And with that in mind, Short writes that United have been put on red alert and are preparing a January swoop for the midfielder.

Biglia’s contract with Lazio runs out in 2017, and that could well tempt the club into selling before his valuation decreases. Yet with Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin and Michael Carrick holding down the defensive midfield spots, his destination is unlikely to be Old Trafford.

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Still, there is a chance that the Lazio skipper could leave the club before too long; when asked about his future back in August, he refused to ruled out a move away from Italy, via Jack Austin of talkSPORT: "Does the fact I accepted the captain’s armband mean I will definitely stay? I don’t know. It doesn’t depend on me. I am here and working hard and thinking about tomorrow’s game. After that anything can happen."

Well, nothing actually did happen, but Biglia’s reluctance to commit his future to Lazio will have undoubtedly filled his suitors with optimism. Are United one of those suitors? Time will tell.

Kamil Glik

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Another player who seemingly won’t be swapping Italian football for the bright lights of Old Trafford is defender Kamil Glik, after he committed his future to Torino—per Sport (h/t Football Italia, via Chisanga Malata of the Daily Star).

The Pole was reportedly targeted by Manchester United during the summer, but Van Gaal opted to buy Matteo Darmian from the Serie A side instead.

United could well have planned to go back in for Glik in January to bolster their options at centre-back, but the star himself has scared off those chasing his signature by saying:

"

I’m not disappointed to have stayed at Torino.

I’ve always been clear, and I’ve never said I want to leave. After the sale of [Matteo] Darmian to Manchester United, it was clear that my Coach [Giampiero] Ventura didn’t want to lose two defenders in a short space of time.

I’ll respect my contract with Torino.

"

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The Red Devils could undoubtedly do with a new central defender in January, though, and if they put the right offer on the table, Torino are unlikely to stand in their way.

A No. 9 was the other gaping hole in Van Gaal’s setup, but Anthony Martial’s controversial arrival could well put paid to more targets being lined up.

Either way, there’s still something missing from United. The lack of imagination and forward-thinking is alarming when you consider their squad strength—and that’s not going to win them the title.

The January transfer window could prove the difference between an average season and a great one for Van Gaal and Co., but unless the Dutchman splashes the cash sensibly, the dark days will continue.