Manchester United Transfer News: Aaron Cresswell Eyed, Felipe Anderson Rumours

The leg break sustained by left-back Luke Shaw in midweek against PSV Eindhoven will push Manchester United to make a swoop for West Ham United's Aaron Cresswell, while news has emerged regarding the Reds' summer pursuit of Felipe Anderson.

According to the Sun, Cresswell has been identified as a "top target" for United manager Louis van Gaal in the wake of Shaw's double fracture during the 2-1 defeat to PSV on Tuesday:

Manchester United were dismayed to see Shaw suffer such a severe injury just as he was beginning to discover his finest form since moving to Old Trafford a year ago.

Fellow West Ham defender James Tomkins believes Cresswell can capitalise upon Shaw's absence, however, and play his way into Roy Hodgson's England squad. He told talkSPORT's Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show:

"

Hopefully, he [Shaw] gets back soon but when someone goes down, there is a chance for someone else and if Cressy keeps performing and doing well I have told him already there is a chance there for him.

Roy is trying to push the youngsters forward and Cresswell is not old, he is only 25, so if he can keep performing there is definitely a chance there.

"

These are the kind of plaudits Cresswell has earned since moving to Upton Park from Ipswich Town in 2014, establishing himself as one of the Premier League's best full-backs during his maiden campaign in the top flight.

Sky Sports Statto confirmed just how important a player the 25-year-old has been under Sam Allardyce and new manager Slaven Bilic, boasting a consistent level performance:

Cresswell is also a rare talent in that he played every minute of the 2014-15 Premier League campaign, acclimating tremendously to the demands of England's first tier.

The Hammers recognised that pedigree and rewarded their star with a new five-year deal as recently as July, but the allure of a move to United may prove too much to resist.

As things stand, United have no senior option to replace the injured Shaw at left-back, although Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind have both occupied the position in the past.

Ex-Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher told a Sky Sports panel how damaging it is for United to lose Shaw at this moment in time, hailing him as "United's best player this season," per Goal's Stefan Coerts:

"

It's very sad for him and for Manchester United. You think of how well he has performed this season, he has possibly been United's best player alongside Chris Smalling in the early weeks.

He was probably about to really cement that left-back position as his own and also with England ahead of the Euros, just as Ashley Cole did for a decade. Hopefully for him he can come back for United before the end of the season and then make the Euros, but it could be a long road to recovery.

"

As such, Van Gaal will want to make sure what was emerging as a position of strength for the club doesn't suffer in Shaw's absence, with the youngster racing to play any further part in the 2015-16 campaign.

United already have a strong core of English players both young and old, but they would be adding another rising native to their ranks if able to cut a deal for West Ham's Cresswell.

United Tempted to Return for Anderson

Andrew Medichini/Associated Press

Metro's Sean Kearns cited Italian outlet CalcioMercato.com, and reported the Red Devils failed with a second bid for the creative maestro worth £29.1 million.

United manager Louis van Gaal reinforced his attack this summer following the departures of Robin van Persie, Javier Hernandez and Radamel Falcao, who was previously on a season-long loan at the club.

Anderson is yet to make a Serie A start for Lazio this season and has fallen behind the likes of Senad Lulic and Antonio Candreva in the team's pecking order, it seems.

Adam Skinner of the Daily Express provided quotes from the player's agent last week, with Juliana Gomes proclaiming her client frustrated with the lack of first-team prominence:

"

He was benched again and I don’t know the reason, but he showed his mettle. Now we expect him to be regularly deployed by the coach. A player with the potential and capabilities of Felipe Anderson cannot be happy otherwise. He is upset, but he has responded on the field with good football.

"

Van Gaal made some substantial acquisitions in attack by bringing in the likes of Memphis Depay and Anthony Martial this past summer.

The latest reports suggest the English giants may have viewed Anderson as a priority before they completed a deadline-day move for £36 million man Martial.

Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News has questioned the valuations of the two players and whether or not United were right to fork out so much for Martial should Anderson have been available for less:

Skinner's report hinted at the notion of United returning for Brazil international Anderson in the new year, particularly if Lazio boss Stefano Pioli continues to sideline one of his biggest stars.

Van Gaal has spoken of his preference to sign young players but has suggested he won't remain at the United helm for the long run, per the Mirror's Simon Mullock:

"

You have seen what I have said about that - and I always do the things I have said. I am a trainer-coach who believes in youth and I believe I have a very good eye for young talent.

Of course, it is easier to buy the big stars, but the big stars can also fail — as we have seen last year [when United bought Angel Di Maria for a British record £59.7m only to sell him to Paris Saint-Germain after one season]. And that is why I have always said you have to invest in young players. Okay, I know they are not ready yet, but that is why I have said that this team is more for my successor than for myself.

"

At 22 years of age, Anderson certainly fits the type of player Van Gaal would like to mould after already showing his pedigree in the Italian top flight.

The Red Devils may not have succeeded in tempting the Rome outfit with a move this past summer, but perhaps his slip down their ranks means the Italians will be more open to the thought of his sale this winter.