Manchester United Transfer News: Sergio Ramos and Andreas Pereira Rumours

Manchester United reportedly never had a chance of bringing Real Madrid centre-back Sergio Ramos to Old Trafford this summer. So said Los Blancos president Florentino Perez during a recent interview with Spanish radio station Cadena COPE (h/t the Daily Star's Chisanga Malata).

Perez strongly rebuked any suggestion Ramos wanted to leave the Spanish capital. Instead, he claimed Los Merengues were determined to keep the 29-year-old and suggested sorting Ramos' contract proved very quick work: "Ramos never wanted to leave Madrid and Madrid never wanted him to leave. It took us five minutes to fix it."

United spent most of the summer chasing one-time Sevilla central defender Ramos. Jason Burt of the Telegraph even suggested the Red Devils gave Madrid an ultimatum that they would only sell goalkeeper David De Gea if Ramos was part of the deal.

For his part, Madrid's new boss, and former United antagonist, Rafa Benitez maintained the Spanish international wouldn't be sold, per Sky Sports. The latest words from Perez only confirm that stance.

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

Of course, since the collapse of De Gea's proposed switch to the Santiago Bernabeu and the ensuing backbiting between both clubs, these words also sound like another verbal salvo from a bitter Madrid boss.

Either way, United failed to land the marquee centre-back manager Louis van Gaal's current squad certainly lacks. Despite some impressive strides made by Chris Smalling on Van Gaal's watch, United still need a marquee, influential defender.

Daley Blind can play out from the back better than most, but the former Ajax man still doesn't seem like a long-term solution at the heart of defence. Ramos would certainly have solved the problem, but the inability to land him has raised troubling questions about United's transfer business.

That's the view of ex-Reds right-back Gary Neville. Writing for the Telegraph, Neville insists the club's ill-fated pursuits of Ramos and other big names this summer inevitably left fans disappointed:

"

The nonsense around Neymar, Sergio Ramos, Gareth Bale and Thomas Muller has pushed people over the edge into thinking: there is a lack of decorum here. United have always been proud of their conduct in the transfer market but that polished feeling has gone.

"

Neville is striking more at how United conducts itself in the transfer market. He's certainly not wrong to raise an eyebrow at the continued willingness to part with huge sums during the last two summers.

Although Neville's idea that United are some sort of symbol of restraint in the market is a little bit of revisionist history.

What is clear is Ramos would have significantly upgraded a patchwork United defence. It's also clear Madrid are only too happy to let Van Gaal know what he missed out on.

Andreas Pereira Won't Quit Old Trafford

One player seemingly content with life at Old Trafford is 19-year-old Andreas Pereira. The skilled young prospect recently declared he has no intention of quitting the Reds, despite limited playing time, per Goal.com's Julien Quelen (h/t Metro's Jamie Sanderson).

Pereira made his feelings clear about United's standing in the game and his desire to stay put: "For me, Manchester United is the biggest club. I came here to play with the first team and win trophies. With Manchester United I want to win."

Pereira also made clear his desire to earn some first-team minutes this season. He's had precious few of those so far in his United career.

AJ Mast/Associated Press

During the final days of this summer's transfer window, there had even been speculation Pereira could spend this season elsewhere. He was linked with a season-long loan move to Eredivisie champions PSV Eindhoven, according to Dutch outlet Voetbul Primeur (h/t James Cambridge of the Daily Express).

The problem for Pereira is at the heart of Neville's argument about United's current transfer policy. He's young and talented, but the club has invested big money on more established players.

Attacking midfielders and supporting forwards such as Memphis Depay, Juan Mata and Ander Herrera are all currently blocking Pereira's path to the starting 11.

Still, United fans will be buoyed by the precocious teenager's recent comments. They won't want a repeat of the Paul Pogba situation when the brilliant Frenchman left Old Trafford over a lack of game time in 2012.

At the moment, though, Pereira's future is far from United's main concern. Neither is the news about Ramos, not when Van Gaal has to push his revamped squad further than last season's trophyless fourth-placed finish.