Manchester United Transfer News: Latest Ashley Cole, Ricardo Rodriguez Rumours

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has admitted the club might need to buy cover for the injured Luke Shaw. Reports state he could move for former Premier League star Ashley Cole or Wolfsburg left-back Ricardo Rodriguez.

According to Simon Mullock of the Mirror, the Dutchman recently said, "I was convinced Shaw would have a very good season. Because of that I didn’t buy a second player for left-back because I thought he would play more or less every game. Maybe now we have to buy a left-back."

Further, Mullock noted Rodriguez has been scouted by the Red Devils. The Sun on Sunday (via the Mirror's Aaron Flanagan) reported Cole, who recently turned out at Old Trafford in David Beckham's UNICEF Match for Children, could be offered "a sensational Premier League return."

Cole made almost 400 Premier League appearances in successful spells at Arsenal and Chelsea and is the sixth-most-capped England player of all time, having turned out 107 times for the Three Lions.

Football writer Liam Canning would welcome Cole's return to the Premier League, though he noted the 34-year-old is no longer quite the same player:

The Englishman made just 16 appearances in all competitions for Roma last season and has not featured at all in this campaign.

The Giallorossi would likely be more than happy to have Cole off their hands after his unhappy spell in Serie A. Indeed, the club barely recognises his existence, per Bleacher Report UK:

Cole is perhaps the best left-back to have played in the Premier League or for England, and though he's far from the player he used to be, he could be useful as an experienced short-term loan signing.

Long term, Rodriguez would be a phenomenal acquisition.

Canning noted after Shaw's injury the quality he brings to United:

If there's a player who could replace Shaw's contribution, it's Rodriguez. The Switzerland international racked up an incredible 10 goals and five assists last season, and as WhoScored.com demonstrated, he is an immensely creative talent on the left flank:

The 23-year-old is also a capable defender. Per Squawka, Rodriguez has won 19 tackles and 26 aerial duels in just 11 Bundesliga appearances this term.

However, a player of his quality isn't likely to be on the move in January—particularly when he is such a key figure for his side and, according to Transfermarkt, has almost four years left on his contract—meaning by the time United would have a chance of landing him, Shaw will likely be fit again.

Further, according to the Mirror (h/t Joe Short of the Express), Rodriguez "would cost United at least £30 million to sign."

While Rodriguez may well be worth that much in today's market, United are only looking for a player to cover Shaw rather than replace him outright, and since the Englishman showed tremendous development before his unfortunate injury, the Red Devils aren't likely to shell out for new first-choice left-back any time soon.