Category Archives: Manchester United

Man Utd Could Sign £57m Prolific Midfielder After Gentleman’s Agreement – reports

Manchester United have been given a boost in their chase for Lazio’s Felipe Anderson, with the reported news that the player and club have a gentleman’s agreement over his sale.

Anderson was upset in the summer after Lazio president Claudio Lotito snubbed a £22 million move from Man Utd, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

However, there is reportedly a verbal agreement in place between the player and his club should a big club come calling. He has a £57m release clause in his contract.

Bayern Munich and Paris St-Germain are also thought to be interested, according to the Daily Star.

Would it work?

Anderson has shown his talent over the last week, scoring a staggering four goals to make him one of Europe’s more prolific midfielders.

That has put him back in the shop window.

However, only a month ago, the press was openly discussing Anderson’s terrible start to the new season, and wondering whether, to use the Daily Star’s headline, Man Utd had ‘dodged a bullet’.

That followed a season in which he scored ten league goals for Lazio.

Anderson could be the sort of player to play both hot and cold, which would not bode well for a move to the Premier League.

Man Utd also seem to have found a functioning attacking unit in Anthony Martial, Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney, and may worry about upsetting the balance.

That said, if Louis van Gaal has decided that he does not want to pick Memphis Depay any more, signing a player like Anderson who could play on the wing would release Martial to operate up front where he is clearly better.

Rooney’s poor form means that that could be to the benefit of the Old Trafford side and their title credentials this season.

Rumour rater

Man Utd are thought to have had personal terms agreed with Anderson during the summer.

If Lazio denied him a move but are accepting of one in the near future, the player would be able to force through a switch.

It’s also not beyond the realms of conception that Man Utd would want a midfielder of Anderson’s playing style, as he would undoubtedly add more to the squad.

This one seems like a goer.

Rumour rated: 5/5

Is Van Gaal casting aside £25m Man Utd buy Depay with January transfer plans?

Louis van Gaal has told the press that Manchester United need to sign “creative, speedy players in attack” in the January transfer window.

This could come as a hammer blow to Memphis Depay, who has been cast aside in recent weeks by his compatriot.

It seems as though Van Gaal has decided that Depay does not fit into his system – he has been dropped in favour of playing Anthony Martial on the left-wing, with Juan Mata operating on the right.

Martial is not a natural left-winger, and choosing him over Depay could suggest that Van Gaal has had enough of the Dutch winger.

This may be the case, given Depay’s last appearance was in the Old Trafford club’s staggering 3-0 collapse away from home against Arsenal.

Given Van Gaal is a systems based manager, preferring tactical understanding over individual brilliance, Depay, gifted and talented on the ball, would not get as much credit as with other bosses.

On Sunday, with Man Utd seeking a winner against Manchester City, Van Gaal put Jesse Lingard on rather than the former PSV Eindhoven man.

That would mean that Depay has been relegated to third choice left-winger.

It would also suggest that if Man Utd do sign “creative, speedy players” for their attack in January, it would only increase the competition for Depay.

Van Gaal has previous – while in charge of Barcelona, he dropped and then got rid of Rivaldo.

Even during his time at Old Trafford, he spent big money on Angel Di Maria, a player who barely featured after January.

This could all be taken as a worrying sign by Depay, who may start wondering where he will fit in after January.

Man Utd and Euro giants chase £70m Chelsea ace – reports

In what must stand as one of the least likely rumours of the weekend, Manchester United have apparently entered the race for Eden Hazard.

Yes, that Eden Hazard. Yes, the one who plays for Chelsea.

According to the Daily Star, Man Utd are looking to take advantage of Hazard’s rift with Jose Mourinho to bring him to Old Trafford. Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester City are also thought to be preparing bids.

It’d cost them £70 million to take him away from Chelsea.

Would it work?

Is this even really a question?

Of course Hazard would improve pretty much any team he played for, at least as long as his manager is not Jose Mourinho in the middle of a sulk.

He’s one of the world’s best attacking players, and was integral as Chelsea won the league last season.

Given Manchester United are currently marooning Anthony Martial out-wide, it would make incredible sense for the Old Trafford club to have Hazard as an option and move the talented young French star to the middle, where he is most effective.

Real would see Hazard as a long-term replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo, who it cannot be forgotten is over 30.

Barcelona could add Hazard to an already devastating front line.

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However, it’s absolutely ludicrous to think Chelsea would let Hazard join a title rival.

He’s their best player by a long way, despite his current feud with Mourinho.

It seems incredibly unlikely that Roman Abramovich would sanction his sale, and he’s more likely to get rid of Mourinho before the Belgian is allowed to leave Stamford Bridge.

Given Chelsea’s current form, that seems all the more likely.

No chance.

Rumour rated: 0/5