Manchester United Transfer News: 4 Players Linked In Latest Rumors getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Manchester United Transfer News: 4 Players Linked In Latest Rumors

Manchester United are reportedly focusing much of their attention on Portugal as they plan to significantly overhaul their squad this summer. The club’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward recently revealed that there is likely to more changes to the squad than usual in the coming close season in order to avoid any repeat of what has been a dismal first season under David Moyes.

It appears that many of their targets are currently plying their trade in Portugal. The Guardian is the latest source to report that United are monitoring Porto’s central defender Eliaquim Mangala. The highly rated France international was close to joining Manchester City on the final day of the January transfer window, but City reportedly balked at Porto’s asking price.

It is thought that City will make a fresh approach in the summer, while Paris Saint-Germain have also been linked. Given the reputation of Porto as tough negotiators, United will face a real battle to land the 23-year-old.

With Nemanja Vidic leaving when his contract expires at the end of the season, a central defender is likely to be on United’s agenda despite Moyes’ assertion that Jonny Evans, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling are capable of replacing the Serbian stalwart.

Manchester United’s interest in Portugal also stretches to young Sporting Lisbon duo Carlos Mane and William Carvalho. It is not the first time that United have been linked to either player. Citing stories in Portugal, Sky Sports reports that United scouts were in attendance for Sporting’s clash with Olhanense at the weekend, when Mane scored the only goal. The strike was the Portugal Under-19 international’s first goal for Sporting, with the winger having broken into the first team this season.

Again, though, United are set to face strong competition for the player’s services. Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham are all credited with an interest, while clubs in both the Bundesliga and Serie A are said to be more advanced in their pursuits.

While keeping a check on Mane, it is thought that United’s main target at Sporting is midfielder William Carvalho. Talksport claims that United have now watched the 21-year-old in action 12 times this season. However, it is said that he would cost in excess of £30 million. Carvalho made his debut for Portugal in the first leg of their World Cup playoff victory over Sweden last November.

Manchester United’s list of midfield targets is doubtless lengthy and is also believed to include Borussia Dortmund’s Ilkay Gundogan. After a fine campaign last term, the Germany international has been absent since the opening day of the Bundesliga season with a back injury. Interest in him remains high, though, especially with his contract set to expire in the summer of 2015.

Real Madrid and Barcelona have both been strongly linked, but the Daily Mirror suggests that United could be given a helping hand by the fact that Dortmund have a strong interest in bringing Shinji Kagawa back to the Westfalenstadion. Kagawa, who signed from Dortmund in the summer of 2012, has fallen even further out of favor with Moyes since the January signing of Juan Mata. United are also thought to be keen on Gundogan’s teammate Marco Reus, although the prospects of landing the attacking midfielder look slim.

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Manchester United Transfer News: 4 Players Linked In Latest Rumors

Manchester United Transfer News: 4 Players Linked In Latest Rumors getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Manchester United Transfer News: 4 Players Linked In Latest Rumors

Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has confirmed that there is likely to be more transfer activity at Old Trafford this summer than in recent years. Woodward, along with manager David Moyes, was widely criticized for failing to make more additions to the squad last summer, with the only major signing being Marouane Fellaini. As the Premier League champions have toiled this campaign, Juan Mata became the club’s record signing in January to try and provide a boost. Yet, with clear weaknesses still apparent in the squad, Woodward explained that there could be a significant turnover of players in the close season.

“It's fair to say we are focused on strengthening the squad and looking at some players to sell, he said, according to BBC Sport. “We're not afraid to move in the market in a way we haven't in recent years."

"Historically, we've had roughly three sales and three purchases each year, and it's possible we'll do more than that. It's a dynamic situation. We're not in the position we want to be in and we're working hard to change that. We will invest in our squad as needed to make sure we're competing at the highest level.”

One player already confirmed to be leaving Old Trafford at the end of the season is captain Nemanja Vidic. The United captain has announced that he will move on with the expiration of his contract and speculation has already started as to the players who could replace the Serbian stalwart.

The Daily Mirror has claimed that Celtic’s Virgil van Dijk and Marseille’s Nicolas N’Koulou feature strongly on Moyes’ list of targets. United are believed to have been monitoring the Netherlands Under-21 international since he joined the Scottish champions from Eredivisie side Groningen last summer.

Meanwhile, 23-year-old N’Koulou, who made his debut for Cameroon at the age of 18, has been linked with a move to the Premier League for some time. Marseille also claimed last month that they rejected a bid in excess of €12 million (£9.8m) from Napoli.

There is also likely to be much focus on strengthening the club’s midfield. Several big-name players were linked in January, including Juventus pair Arturo Vidal and Paul Pogba, with it being widely believed that Manchester Untied would return to try and prize them away in the summer.

However, United’s chances of landing either Vidal or Pogba appear to have taken significant blows. Pogba, who left United for Juventus at the end of his contract in 2012, is set to sign a new deal with Juventus, according to widespread reports. Indeed, the Daily Mirror asserts that the extension would tie the France to the Italian champions until 2018 while trebling his salary.

Meanwhile, the Daily Mail has claimed that Vidal has also signed a new deal, despite only having extended his contract in December. It is now believed that the Chile international will earn close to £200,000 a week, as Juventus try to stave off growing interest in his services. It was always going to take a massive offer to secure the services of either player, and now their valuations will have crept up even higher.

Manchester United Transfer News: 4 Players Linked In Latest Rumors

Manchester United Transfer News: 4 Players Linked In Latest Rumors getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Manchester United Transfer News: 4 Players Linked In Latest Rumors

David Moyes has suggested that it will be a busy transfer window for Manchester United next month and insists that the club is willing to spend big. United were roundly criticized for their transfer dealings during the summer when failed approaches were made for Thiago Alcantara, Cesc Fabregas and Ander Herrera, while it is also rumored that Gareth Bale was pursued, before Marouane Fellaini eventually arrived.

Having subsequently endured a terrible start to the season, in which they recently lost back-to-back Premier League matches at Old Trafford for the first time in 22 years, there is now much pressure for the squad to be improved in January.

"The club have the money and they will spend, there's no question about that," Moyes said in widely reported comments over the weekend. "We were very close to a major, major signing back in the summer.

"It's easy now saying it and we didn't do it but we were really close to a major signing and the club would have definitely shown what they're worth."

"It wasn't for money, that's for sure. The players had chosen other clubs or made their decisions elsewhere.

However, Moyes, who also hinted that there would be players leaving Old Trafford, did again try to temper expectations by stating that he wouldn’t panic into bringing players in for the sake of it.

"The bigger picture is I want players going forward, not just for the next six months,” he added. “I'm looking to see if I can get someone who will be with us for the next six or seven years."

As in the summer, Moyes’ main area of focus for his recruitment in January is sure to be in central midfield. One of the main names linked to the club in recent weeks has been Atletico Madrid’s Spain international Koke, with Moyes even seen in the stands at Atletico’s recent Champions League match with FC Porto. Yet, citing stories in Spain, the Daily Mirror reports that Koke has no interest in making the move next month.

Such claims hardly come as a surprise. The 21-year-old is currently enjoying a fine season in helping Atletico to be level on points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga and having reached the last 16 of the Champions League. He would also surely be concerned that making such a move in midseason might hamper his chances of making Spain’s World Cup squad.

Another midfielder widely linked of late is Internazionale’s Fredy Guarin. According to the Sunday People, the dynamic Colombia international could be available for £15 million. However, the report also states that Chelsea have now moved into prime position to seal a deal for the 27-year-old, with Inter officials said to have been at Stamford Bridge.

There continue to be stories that Moyes will again go back to his former club for his next signings. Leighton Baines was the subject of several bids during the summer and the Manchester Evening News believes that Everton are trying to fight off interest from the champions in the left-back as well as midfield starlet Ross Barkley.

Barkley is regarded as one of the best young prospects in England and has become a regular this season under Moyes’ successor Roberto Martinez. And the Spaniard has confirmed that discussions over a new contract for the 20-year-old are in the offing.

"You can imagine we are working always behind the scenes to try to reward youngsters who do well at the club and Ross is clearly that, but there is nothing to announce,” he said. "Even when you don't speak about issues we work really hard behind the scenes to try to make sure that the youngsters get rewarded and Ross clearly deserves that."

Baines, who is currently out with injury, is also set to be offered a new deal to ward off fresh interest that is expected to come from Old Trafford next month.

"All these issues are vital for us and we are going to look after them straight after this Christmas period,” he added.

Follow Jason Le Miere on Twitter

Manchester United Transfer News: 4 Players Linked In Latest Rumors