Manchester United FC: Top 11 Realistic Summer Transfers
Despite having this season's EPL crown all but wrapped up, any Manchester United fan would tell you that there are a number of improvements that have to be made to the club this summer.
With Edwin van der Sar retiring this summer, the biggest need will be for a replacement goalkeeper. With that in mind, there are also a number of other positions that Sir Alex Ferguson will be looking to strengthen.
The Manchester United midfield is perhaps also weaker than Ferguson would like, with Giggs and Scholes both getting older and a number of the younger players, like Gabriel Obertan, failing to meet expectations.
Here is a list of 11 likely transfers for Manchester United this summer.
David De Gea
1 of 11
Age: 20
Current Club: Atletico Madrid
Nationality: Spanish
Position: Goalkeeper
The young goalkeeper has been much discussed recently and is largely seen as the eventual successor to Iker Casillas as the Spanish number one.
With so much upside, Manchester United could potentially be signing a goalkeeper that could serve them well for the next 15 or so years, based on past records.
De Gea would be a fantastic signing for any team, but Manchester United are the favourites to land the youngster.
Jack Rodwell
2 of 11
Age: 20
Current Club: Everton
Nationality: English
Position: Midfielder
Already well known by football fans around England, Jack Rodwell has been touted as one of the future stars of the England team for a long time.
Everton are very unlikely to sell Rodwell for cheap, so Manchester United will need to be prepared to fork out a large amount to secure the signing of the midfielder.
He may not jump straight into the first XI of the United set up, but with Ferguson's record of developing young talent, United wouldn't be too bad of a place to move.
Wesley Sneijder
3 of 11
Age: 26
Current Club: Inter Milan
Nationality: Dutch
Position: Attacking Midfielder
With Paul Scholes not getting any younger, Ferguson is rumoured to be looking at Sneijder as a replacement for the United and England legend.
Some speculation has even suggested that Sneijder would not only be a replacement for Scholes, but also the key piece in a complete revamp of the club's midfield.
Having dealt with contract issues at Inter Milan, Ferguson has been alerted to Sneijder's status and while he would not be cheap, he would certainly make a good signing.
Ashley Young
4 of 11
Age: 25
Current Club: Aston Villa
Nationality: English
Position: Winger / Second Striker
Young showed so much potential in his early years at Aston Villa after signing from Watford, but then dropped off a bit and seemed to disappear from the public eye.
However, he has bounced back as of late, and his recent form has helped him win more England caps. He has even scored for the national team that he is now a key part of.
Aston Villa will want to keep hold of him to link him up with Darren Bent, but the lure of Champions League football could be too much to resist for Ashley Young.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
5 of 11
Age: 17
Current Club: Southampton
Nationality: English
Position: Winger
It was rumoured that both Arsenal and Manchester United have been bidding for Oxlade-Chamberlain in the January transfer window, but nothing ever came to fruition and the teen remained with Southampton.
This summer, however, Ferguson may have had more of a chance to follow the progress of the youngster and could well make a move for him.
Although he would not be a part of the United set up straight away, the teenager would be in a very safe place to continue his development and it could propel him to being a key player for England in future years.
Jose 'Pepe' Reina
6 of 11
Age: 28
Current Club: Liverpool
Nationality: Spanish
Position: Goalkeeper
The Liverpool goalkeeper has had numerous reports linking him with Manchester United, and Reina has not bothered to denounce those rumours either.
The Spanish goalkeeper has admitted that if a move away from Liverpool seemed like the best move for him, then he would definitely consider it.
While a move from Liverpool to Manchester United would not make him the most popular footballer, it would almost certainly prove as a great place to finish his career.
Gareth Bale
7 of 11
Age: 21
Current Club: Tottenham Hotspur
Nationality: Welsh
Position: Left Winger / Left Back
Despite Bale ruling out a move to Manchester United recently, the Red Devils are unlikely to let that stop them from attempting to sign him.
After winning the PFA Player of the Year award, Gareth Bale is seen by many as a natural successor to Ryan Giggs at Wales and potentially at Manchester United as well.
Harry Redknapp will likely have a tough time this summer trying to keep hold of all his key players, and Gareth Bale is no different with much speculation surrounding his future this past season.
Enzo Zidane
8 of 11
Age: 16
Current Club: Real Madrid
Nationality: Italian (Also holds Spanish citizenship)
Position: Midfielder
Enzo Zidane is the son of French legend Zinedine Zidane, and while that does not automatically make him a great player, the fact that he is a key part in Real Madrid's youth squads does.
The youngster has only recently hit his 16th birthday, and with Zinedine still at the club as an advisor, it would seem sensible for the youngster to remain at the Bernabeu.
However, with clubs signing younger players each year, Enzo could be a part of this trend and join the United youth team this summer.
Hugo Lloris
9 of 11
Age: 24
Current Club: Olympique Lyonnais
Nationality: French
Position: Goalkeeper
Another goalkeeper that Ferguson may potentially sign, Lloris has been a solid rock for both Lyon and France in recent seasons, and despite showing poor form in the World Cup last year, he still has a lot of potential to fulfil.
Lloris has already proven himself at the top level of European football, which may also be an added bonus that not all goalkeepers have.
Douglas Costa
10 of 11
Age: 20
Current Club: Shakhtar Donetsk
Nationality: Brazilian
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Douglas Costa jumped into the public's attention this year after playing a key role in Shakhtar Donetsk's run to the Champions League Quarter Finals, and as a result Costa could be the latest Brazilian addition to the Manchester United midfield.
The young Brazilian would follow in the footsteps of Anderson, Fabio Da Silva and Rafael Da Silva in joining the Manchester United ranks and could be a very underrated signing.
He has already had experience in the Champions League this season with Shakhtar Donetsk and at such a young age, he's an attractive prospect.
Manuel Neuer
11 of 11
Age: 25
Current Club: Schalke 04
Nationality: German
Position: Goalkeeper
Neuer is perhaps best known in England as the goalkeeper for Germany that partook in Frank Lampard's fateful "goal that never was" in the 2010 World Cup.
Neuer has experience at the top level of European football, reaching the Champions League Semi Finals with Schalke 04 as well as having been Germany's first-choice keeper since the World Cup.
Manchester United will have their eyes on a number of different goalkeepers as a replacement for Edwin van der Sar, and while David De Gea may be the favourite to sign with the Old Trafford club, Manuel Neuer is definitely one of the contenders as well.
