Manchester United Transfer News: Yacine Brahimi and Matt Ritchie Rumours Emerge

Manchester United have been linked with a huge deal for Porto’s Yacine Brahimi, and manager Louis van Gaal is said to be prepared to pay £42.4 million for the Algerian international.

Portuguese newspaper Record (h/t Tom Marshall-Bailey of the Manchester Evening News) reported LvG has sent a scouting party to watch the 25-year-old, as the Dutch coach looks to add genuine pace to his attack.

Brahimi possesses the raw speed and trickery United require in their pedestrian forward line, and the player is enjoying an excellent season for his club.

Paulo Duarte/Associated Press

However, Will Giles of Metro said the huge value represents the release clause in the attacker's current deal, in reference to the Record's report, and it could scare United off due to the mammoth size of the amount. 

Brahimi was impressive for Porto in their Champions League encounter with Chelsea, exerting consistent pressure on Blues full-back Branislav Ivanovic.

Chelsea were also linked with interest in the attacker, as cited by the Guardian's Paul Doyle, and the journalist described Brahimi as, "Porto's best player."

Considering the value of his price tag, the player's numbers are not spectacular. He has scored just once in the Portuguese league and provided no assists to date this season, according to WhoScored.com.

Van Gaal certainly needs to add pace in the January transfer window, but despite his form, Brahimi would be a wildly expensive option at £42.4 million.

According to the MailOnline's Simon Jones, United will revisit their interest in Sadio Mane, and he has a Premier League pedigree for what would be a similar price.

Jeremy Wilson of the Telegraph recently said Van Gaal would have to "double their summer offer" that United made for Mane, thought to be around £20 million.

Shock Interest In Bournemouth Star

Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images

United are keeping tabs on the development of Bournemouth's Matt Ritchie, who has impressed during the opening weeks of the campaign. 

The Sun writes LvG has sent scouts to monitor his progress on the south coast after the 26-year-old Scotsman impressed as the Cherries were promoted to the Premier League as winners of the Championship. 

Ritchie hit 15 goals last season and provided 17 assists, according to the Sun, proving his credentials as an attacking force in the Championship. 

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

The player recently spoke about his dramatic rise to prominence, as quoted by the Telegraph's Jeremy Wilson:

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I always believed in myself. If I didn’t who would? I say that on behalf of a lot of the lads in our dressing-room. We have all had to have belief in ourselves and each other. From the manager all the way through the squad, every player has not been chucked into the Premier League. We have had to graft, show desire, grit and determination to get to where we are. Anything I do in my life, anything I put my mind to, I like to do it properly and look for anything that can make me better.

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United will continue to be linked with a host of attackers in the coming weeks, but Van Gaal needs to act if he harbours ambitions of winning the Premier League.

The Red Devils have proved they are now a sound defensive machine, with Chris Smalling leading from the back, but the team desperately need flair and speed.

Brahimi appears to be hugely overpriced, considering he has never played in one of the very top domestic leagues, but a player with Mane's skill set would be worth every penny.

He has proved for Southampton he is a special talent, and Old Trafford would be a worthy stage for his attributes.

He would bring the pace and threat LvG desires and take United to the next level.