Man United transfers: the hipster signings Van Gaal needs this summerBy
Greg Johnson Posted on March 30, 2015
Following the belated success of Ander Herrera in the second half of his first season with Manchester United, eyes are now set towards other potentially canny, left-field signings from some of the less obvious corners of the European transfer market.
As ever, the Old Trafford rumour mill is spinning at a rate of knots, but looking past the usual suggestions of record-breaking bids for Gareth Bale, Robert Lewandowski, Cristiano Ronaldo and so on, who should Louis van Gaal be measuring up for another shopping spree come the summer?
Football hipsters and transfer muppets unite! Here are the six clever-clever transfer targets United should make moves for come the off-season.
1. Memphis DepayGiven the number of Dutchman in the dugout and on the field, that have moved to England of late, Memphis Depay could well be the most “on trend” talent of 2015.
The winger has been absolutely dominating the Eredivise with PSV Eindhoven this season, scoring 17 goals in 24 league appearances from the left flank.
According to his Squawka Performance Score, he has been his side’s best player during 14 of those 24 matches, and is the best-rated individual in Phillip Cocu’s table-topping squad this campaign.
Memphis’ domination of the top-flight in the Netherlands is somewhat reminiscent of Cristiano Ronaldo’s explosive reign over the Premier League in his final two years in England. And although the wide-man may still be a long, long way from reaching the Portuguese’s level, he has already shown the kind of impact and winning mentality that United will require to bring their new 4-3-3 to life.
The club is also likely to hold a key advantage in the race to sign the 21-year-old too. As explained by the manager’s former associate and biographer, Hugo Borst, in a wide-ranging interview with
Republik Of Mancunia, Van Gaal and Memphis hold a strong bond due to the winger’s lack of relationship with his father and the almost surrogate-like role that he took on during his stint as national team manager.
According to Borst, this intense connection made them “one hell of a team” during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil; a high-flying combination, both on and off the pitch, that United will surely want to rekindle at Old Trafford this summer.
2. Roberto FirminoHoffenheim’s hard-working Brazilian forward has been the best kept secret in the Bundesliga for the past couple of years, but now, after scoring a rather outrageous “no look” goal against Chile for his national team, the hype around his talent is only likely to rise.
https://vine.co/v/OLqEgtTZ00dFirmino is in so many ways an ideal Van Gaal attacker. Not only is he a dangerous opponent in one-on-one situations – winning 56% of the 193 take-ons he has attempted in 26 appearances in the German top flight this campaign – but his defensive contributions from the front make him well-suited to the tracking back expected by United’s “total football” focussed manager.
So far this season, he has made 28 interceptions, 22 clearances and 58 successful tackles (from 147 attempts) while mostly playing as an attacking midfielder or wide forward. On top of that, he has scored six goals and provided seven assists from a total tally of 53 chances created.
His strike against Chile also hints at a kind of self-assured arrogance under pressure that United fans adore from their players.
With Wayne Rooney likely to keep his role upfront, and Juan Mata now looking able to man the right-flank as the team’s newfangled “false right winger”, Firmino could be the ideal candidate to play as the team’s hard-pressing “shadow striker” from deep; the role played to perfection at Ajax under Van Gaal by Jari Litmanen.
https://vine.co/v/MXu7m6pM1bD3. Mateo KovacicMichael Carrick’s return to the starting line-up has given United the stable midfield foundation they’ve been missing for so much of this season, but with the Englishman now 33 – and turning 34 in July – his availability could well dip as the physical strain of age takes its toll upon his body.
Inter Milan reportedly want to sell Mateo Kovacic following the Croatian’s failure to kick on under current manager Roberto Mancini, according to Sports Mediaset via
TuttoMercatoWeb, and while the playmaker may have been utilised in a more advanced role of late, he has long been seen as a more deep-lying prospect for the future.
At the age of just 18, he made his international debut in his country’s fierce regional derby against Serbia playing as the defensive anchorman behind the more rampant trio of Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Niko Kranjcar. It was a bold move by Igor Stimac to play the youngster in such a tactically important and mentally demanding role but he was excellent, not only at intercepting dangers but also recycling the ball and feeding his team-mates further up the field.
Van Gaal rarely has need for one-dimensional players, and while Kovacic may have struggled in Milan of late playing in the final third, a redeployment to the rear of United’s midfield could help him to realise his potential, not only as a deep-lying creator, but as an adventurous midfield baseline.
4. Radja NainggolanKevin Strootman remains the ideal midfielder for Van Gaal’s 4-3-3 system, but with the Dutch struggling with injury for the second season in a row, an expensive move to bring him to Old Trafford now looks like a risk that could backfire for a club that still harbours memories of Owen Hargreaves fragility after moving from Bayern Munich.
However, while the Roma midfielder’s problems to stay fit may make him look prohibitive as a transfer target, his team-mate in the Italian capital – Belgium’s Radja Nainggolan – could be an excellent substitute to replace him on United’s shortlist, just as he has for Rudi Garcia’s team in Serie A.
Though nowhere near as accomplished as Strootman, the Belgian has a similar profile as an all-action midfielder, able to contribute towards his team’s efforts at either end of the field, box-to-box. In his 25 league appearances this season, he has made 25 interceptions, 29 successful take-ons and created 27 chances. He has won more tackles than any other Roma player (48), more shots (41) and only Miralem Pjanic has completed more passes in the final third (312).
With Herrera having finally secured his place in Van Gaal’s first team, Nainggolan would likely arrive as a rotation player, if not as cover for the Spaniard, but United need strength in depth, especially in central positions.
5. Aymeric LaporteFor a second season in a row, United are reportedly taking an interest in a player on the books of Athletic Club of Bilbao, as per
The Guardian.
Aymeric Laporte is a French Basque centre-back who has excelled under Ernesto Valverde at San Mames, who currently has the fourth highest number of interceptions in La Liga this season and the most in Europe’s top five leagues for a player under the age of 21.
Laporte’s interceptions: best for an U21 in Europe’s top five.
Though just 20 years of age, he would fit in well with the proactive style of defending Van Gaal prefers yet help to temper the impetuous natures of Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones with a composure far beyond his years.
Whether signing this hipster-friendly defender would be feasible – or another can of logistical and legal worms ready to be opened as was the case with Herrera – is another matter.
6. Mauro IcardiThough he may be becoming more and more mainstream by the week due to his goal-scoring feats in Serie A, Icardi has the potential to be the replacement to Robin van Persie many fans are crying out for.
How Icardi has scored his 15 league goals this season.
An exciting forward who has shown quick feet and a quick mind up front for Inter this season, he has the intelligent movement and wide ranging variety of finishes within his repertoire that would enable him to punish teams from all angles and directions inside the box.
The positions from which Icardi has scored his 15 leagues goals for Inter this season.
Inter may not be keen on letting both Icardi and Kovacic go however. Both leaving would put a dent in the club’s desires to build a new era based on youth in one fell swoop. Yet either player would be a dazzling addition to Van Gaal’s squad, with plenty of potential and skill to wow the Stretford End within his system.
www.squawka.com/news/man-united-transfers-the-hipster-signings-van-gaal-needs-this-summer/332511
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