Manchester United Transfer News: Graziano Pelle Wanted, Jesse Lingard Rumours

Southampton’s Graziano Pelle is reportedly a surprise target for Manchester United, as the Red Devils seek to add more variety to their attacking play.

According to the Daily Telegraph, there is interest in the Italy international striker from the Premier League giants and Italian champions Juventus. Pelle has been a brilliant capture for Saints since signing in the 2014 summer transfer window—scoring goals, linking up with team-mates and forging a reputation as one of the standout target men in the division.

As is evident here, courtesy of football writer Jake Cohen, Pelle and team-mate Dusan Tadic have made Southampton a major threat in attacking areas since their arrivals:

United certainly don’t have a player of Pelle’s style to call upon at the moment. The Italy man would offer a much greater aerial presence and is someone who could occupy centre-backs, and if the Red Devils were chasing the game, he’d be an ideal option to bring off the substitutes bench late on in matches.

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Currently, the attacking segment of Louis van Gaal’s squad could certainly do with some replenishment, too. Wayne Rooney, currently tasked with leading the attack for United, is certainly having a tough time of things, as noted by Daniel Storey of Football365:

Even so, Pelle doesn’t seem like the answer. Not only would Southampton be extremely reluctant to sell a key player in a position where they don’t have much cover, but at 30 years old, the Italian would only be a short-term fix.

Van Gaal could definitely do with a different type of player to call upon in attacking areas, and someone as physically dominant as Pelle would be a very useful addition to the squad. However, it’s a transfer that seems extremely unlikely to come off, with the Red Devils in need of younger, more dynamic options.

No New Deal for Jesse Lingard

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Jesse Lingard, the new darling of Old Trafford, will not be handed a bumper new deal by Manchester United, despite his superb recent form.

The youngster did pen a new deal with the Red Devils earlier in the year but has recently established himself as an integral part of Van Gaal’s squad. Despite his enriched status, according to a “senior club source,” there is no rush to give the Englishman a new deal.

“We are aware of how talented Jesse is, which is why we gave him a new deal earlier this year,” said the source, via Jeremy Cross of the Daily Star. “There are no plans to sit down with him and discuss another new deal. The most important thing is that he continues to make progress.”

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Lingard actually started in Van Gaal’s first competitive game as United boss before an injury denied him a chance to make an early impression. In recent weeks, despite the presence of high-profile signings such as Memphis Depay and Anthony Martial, the Warrington-born winger has shown what he is capable of, scoring his first senior goal for the Red Devils in his last outing.

As we can see here courtesy of Squawka Football, in that game—a 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion—and others of late, Lingard was a menace in advanced areas:

It’s encouraging for the 22-year-old, who seems to be making a major statement of intent while United’s attacking options are limited. The challenge for Lingard will be to preserve these levels, especially if the Red Devils do add to their squad with an influx of attacking talent in January or next summer.

Even so, a new contract just nine months on from renewing terms doesn’t seem necessary. The prospect of losing his spot in his boyhood team will be enough to ensure Lingard doesn’t let any complacency creep into his game for a long time yet.