Silly season is well underway as we approach the middle of the summer window and transfer rumours are circulating with incredible velocity here at Football FanCast.
So quickly, in fact, that we’re struggling to keep track of them all. You probably are too, and thus we thought it would be a good idea to start compiling all the rumours regarding the Premier League’s top clubs into one easily accessible place, trimmed down into digestible chunks with a simple-yet-effective ‘Three In, Three Out’ format.
This is Football Fancast’s third edition looking at Manchester United. They’ve already been pretty busy this summer, spending around £75million on four signings – Matteo Darmian, Morgan Schneiderlin, Memphis Depay and Bastian Schweinsteiger – but more activity is certainly expected as the Red Devils look to claim their first Premier League title since the resignation of Sir Alex Ferguson.
So where will United turn next? Are they about to snap up some title-winning talent? Who’s heading out of the Old Trafford exit door? Read our Three In Three Out to discover the club’s next course of action in the market.
OUT – ANGEL DI MARIA
Despite starting his Manchester United career incredibly brightly and actually finishing up as the club’s top creator last season with ten assists in 27 Premier League appearances, the Red Devils are reportedly on the verge of selling Angel Di Maria to PSG.
Indeed, rumours of United scrapping their club-record signing after just a single season have circulated for some time and according to reports from The Independent on Friday they’ve accepted a £45.9million bid – incurring a £14million loss on the investment made last summer.
Both clubs are set to face each other during pre-season tours of America next Thursday and PSG hope the Argentina international will arrive in the USA – following his Copa America break – as their player, rather than a United’s.
IN – PEDRO
It appears United have already sourced a likeminded replacement for Angel Di Maria in Barcelona winger Pedro.
The 27 year-old has done it and won it all throughout his spells with Barca and the Spanish national team, specifically winning five La Liga titles, three Champions League titles, a World Cup and a European Championship, but looks set to leave the Nou Camp this summer after inevitably slumping behind Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar in the pecking order.
The revelation that Pedro’s recently signed contract includes a £22million release clause has seen him linked with a host of Premier League clubs, namely Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and the Red Devils.
But the tabloids seem to think United are considerably ahead of the pack in the race to sign the 51-cap international, with The Express claiming a deal could be concluded sometime next week.
That’s in no small part due to Manchester United facing Barcelona during the International Champions Cup this Saturday – the theory being that it will give club representatives the chance to meet face to face and quickly thrash out a deal.
OUT – VICTOR VALDES
Despite signing for the Red Devils only a matter of months ago, Victor Valdes’ Old Trafford career seems to be coming to an abrupt end.
Louis van Gaal made the shock revelation last weekend that the former Barcelona No.1 will be sold after refusing to play for United’s reserves squad – much to Valdes’ bemusement.
Unfortunately, however, the Carrington outfit are struggling to find a buyer. He looked set to join Valencia last week, with some even claiming the 33 year-old could become a makeweight in a deal that would see centre-back target Nicolas Otamendi go the other way.
But Los Che have now snapped up Aussie shot-stopper Mathew Ryan from Club Brugge on a six-year deal, effectively ending their interest in Valdes.
The Daily Mail believe the goalkeeper’s excessive wage demands could have been the determining factor.
SERGIO ROMERO
Manchester United have come up with an inspired plan to remedy the Victor Valdes situation. Simply replace one out of favour international goalkeeper available on a free transfer with another, this time in the form of Argentina’s Sergio Romero – who The Daily Mail claim the Red Devils entered talks with earlier this week.
The 28 year-old has just been released by Sampdoria after losing his starting place to former Arsenal loan signing Emiliano Viviano and failing to impress on loan at AS Monaco.
But internationally, Romero boasts a strong record. He’s served as Albiceleste’s No.1 at the last two World Cups, particularly impressing as they reached the tournament’s final last summer, and overall boasts 62 caps.
According to reports from The Express on Friday, he’s now agreed a three-year contract at Old Trafford.
OUT – ASHLEY YOUNG
Ashley Young’s Manchester United career certainly isn’t decimated to the extent of the aforementioned Angel Di Maria and Victor Valdes.
He’s just come to the end of arguably his best campaign to date at Old Trafford, finding two goals and five assists in 25 Premier League appearances and even spending a significant portion of the season as the Red Devils’ emergency left wing-back in the absence of Luke Shaw.
But with his contract set to expire at the end of next season and recent discussions over a new deal stalling, the 30 year-old has admitted his future now lays in the hands of the club – hinting that they could decide to sell.
One potential next destination that’s emerged since is former club Aston Villa. They sold Young to United for £18million in 2011 after claiming consecutive slots in the PFA Team of the Year.
IN – CRISTIANO RONALDO
It’s a romantic transfer saga that just doesn’t seem to end – Cristiano Ronaldo’s long-awaited return to Old Trafford.
Indeed, it seems a transfer window doesn’t pass without the three-time Ballon d’Or winner being linked to his former club and reports on Thursday evening fulfilled that bi-annual tradition once again.
According to Manchester Evening News, the Red Devils are considering a club-record bid to re-sign the Portugal international amid rumours of persistent bust-ups with newly-appointed manager Rafa Benitez.
Ronaldo has been caught on camera partaking in a few heated discussion with Benitez during one of the club’s open training sessions and he’s also allegedly disappointed in the way the former Chelsea and Liverpool gaffer treated club icon Iker Casillas – essentially forcing him into joining FC Porto.
But let’s face it folks – we’ve heard this one before. Dozens of times. As much as I’d like to see Ronaldo in the Premier League again, it seems unlikely Real Madrid are about to sell arguably the best player in the world when his contract doesn’t expire for another three years.
