Manchester United To Embark On Huge Summer Spending Spree, Could Break Transfer Record
Manchester United’s manager Louis Van Gaal can spend as much money as he wants in the summer.
The Dutch coach, who joined Manchester United in the summer, has already spent over $200 million since arriving at Old Trafford. This included splashing $100 million on Angel Di Maria, which was a British transfer record.
However, despite the fact that the Red Devils currently trail Chelsea by 11 points in the Premier League, Manchester United’s owners have been impressed by Van Gaal, and are willing to provide him with more funds to improve his squad.
Manchester United have been linked with a legion of players since the transfer window closed at the start of September. Roma’s Kevin Strootman, who has a close relationship with Louis Van Gaal, and Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels as well as Atletico Madrid’s Diego Godin have allegedly been targeted.
According to BBC News, Ed Woodward, who works as Manchester United’s chief executive, indicated last month that the club are looking at possible targets for the summer’s transfer window. He also dismissed any “short-term fixes” in January.
“We have targets we are looking at for next summer. Should any of them become available in January, which is obviously rare, we consider acting. But it is a low probability.”
If Strootman and Hummels are Manchester United’s main targets, then it would also make sense for them to wait until the summer.
Not only will they have more time to work out a fee then, rather than in the one-month January transfer window, but Roma and Borussia Dortmund are currently battling for the Serie A title and to stave off relegation from the Bundesliga respectively. Thus it would take a gargantuan sum to even begin negotiating a deal with either club.
In the summer, both Strootman and Hummels would be more inclined to try and force a move to Old Trafford, while it would also allow Manchester United more time to try agree a fair price.
However, it appears as though the spending won’t stop there though. According to the Guardian, Manchester United are going to try and replicate Real Madrid’s transfer policy by targeting the best players in the world.
Van Gaal wants to add a midfielder, a right-back, one or two central defenders, a wide player, and potentially a striker, if they don’t decide to purchase Radamel Falcao.
The players they are interested in include Barcelona’s Dani Alves and Bayern Munich’s Arjen Robben, while most United fans will be pining that they make a move for Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo.
Van Gaal has also been informed that he can break the world record transfer fee, which is currently the $133 million that Real Madrid spent on Gareth Bale.
Either way, it promises to be a busy summer for Manchester United as they look to return to the summit of English soccer.
[Image via NDTV]