Manchester United Transfer News: Pele Claims Red Devils Wanted Him, Top Rumours

Brazilian icon Pele has claimed Manchester United attempted to sign him during his playing days, but says he decided to stay loyal to Santos and not embark on an English adventure. 

Tom Olver of Metro writes the South American hero could have joined a number of European giants, after Pele name-dropped the Red Devils:

"

I was invited to come to Europe many times, to come to Real Madrid, Milan, Manchester United but I was OK. Santos was the best team at that time. But today is different. Because in my time we didn’t have an agent. These days it is not the player, it is the agent who decides where they go to play. A lot of players they play one or another team because the agent tells them.

"

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It is not the first time the Brazil World Cup winner has proclaimed United were after his signature, claiming in 2006 he could have once joined the Old Trafford club, as reported by the Guardian's Daniel Taylor. 

Pele said he had the opportunity to join Sir Matt Busby's European Cup winners in 1968, teaming up with Sir Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and George Best to form one of the greatest attacks in football history.

When asked which offer tempted him at the time, Pele replied, per Taylor: "Manchester! I even had a proposal from Manchester United."

The Selecao legend explained he turned down Busby because of his loyalty to Santos, and his desire to stay in Brazil.

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Pele also recently spoke about his admiration for Arsenal, commenting on their style and philosophy, with journalist Piers Morgan saying he would rather have him in attack for the Gunners now:

Pele might have loved to have appeared at the Theatre of Dreams on a weekly basis, but we can only imagine what it would have been like to see him wear the famous United strip.

United Chase Chong and Morgan

United manager Louis van Gaal has looked towards his native home of the Netherlands for a future Old Trafford star after rumours emerged he is ready to pounce for Feyenoord sensation, Tahith Chong.

Chelsea are also very keen on the youngster's signature, but the Sun (h/t James Cambridge of the Express) believe he is ready to snub the Blues after travelling to Carrington to discuss a move with senior figures at United.

Cambridge says the 15-year-old has already played at Carrington for his team in the Premier Cup competition, impressing United's watching scouts—he is eligible to sign for a club when he turns 16 in January.

Chong is a diverse talent with electric pace and skill, with the capabilities to feature across the midfield, or play as a centre-forward.

The Red Devils have a stockpile of attacking midfielders at the club, but if Chong is the next big thing, Van Gaal will want him under his wing at United as soon as possible.

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Van Gaal also has his eye on another starlet, as he ponders a move for Charlton Athletic's burgeoning defensive talent Morgan Fox.

The United boss is on the lookout to bring in left-back reinforcement while Luke Shaw recovers from a broken leg, with Fox under consideration, as reported by Dean Jones of the Mirror.

Fox, 22, has made the breakthrough at The Valley in the past 12 months, and has already been called into the full Wales squad as his stock grows. 

Jones says the Addicks are desperately trying to get the player to sign a new deal with them in light of United's sudden interest, but Van Gaal is also considering a move for either West Ham's Aaron Cresswell or Leeds United's Charlie Taylor.

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Shaw will likely be out of the first-team picture for the rest of the campaign, but there seems minimal logic in a January addition for the left-back position, with the England international likely to be assured of his place back in time for pre-season.

However, Daley Blind's move to centre-back might be the cause of this interest from Van Gaal, with Marcos Rojo still short on match fitness and form. 

United played Matteo Darmian at left-back against Sunderland on Saturday, and the Italian performed well. However, he has been bought to guard the right-back berth, and a switch would see the Red Devils forced to employ Antonio Valencia in defence as they did last term.

Fox could be a clever purchase in the coming months; his reputation is sure to explode in the next year should he perform well with Charlton and Wales, and his price would rocket next summer.