Targets David Moyes might want to have on his Old Trafford radar.
David Moyes first transfer window as Manchester United manager has been an anti-climax thus far as he attempts to defend the Premier League title won in convincing fashion last season.
Only Sir Alex Ferguson’s January signing Wilfried Zaha has arrived at the club from Crystal Palace as the Old Trafford outfit suffer a somewhat frustrating summer following near misses in the transfer market.
Barcelona starlet Thiago Alcantara rejected advances from Manchester to sign for former Barca boss Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich instead while the repeated attempt to sign his former colleague Cesc Fabregas now looked doomed to failure. The 26-year-old midfielder has confirmed that he wants to stay at the Nou Camp after the Catalan club turned down United’s second transfer offer.
Moyes must now identify alternative targets as he looks to make his mark on Sir Alex’s side of winners and he appears to have targeted reinforcing his midfield as his primary concern ahead of the new Premier League season.
Here are the five players that Moyes should consider moving for before the transfer deadline passes:
Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
The former Tottenham man has recently emerged as a summer transfer target for United as the club look for a top-quality alternative to Fabregas.
He only left England to join the La Liga runners-up from Spurs in a £33million deal last summer but has since struggled to establish himself in Spain as ex-Real boss Jose Mourinho opted for other options in midfield.
However he has slowly developed as an significant player for the Madrid side and notably scored as Madrid knocked United out of the Champions League last season.
But in spite of this improvement, Modric could struggle to gain regular football at the Santiago Bernabeu after the arrivals of Isco and Asier Illarramendi this summer and the 27-year-old Croatian playmaker could make the switch back to England as the Old Trafford club seek a top-class midfielder this summer.
After building up four years of experience in the Premier League, the 27-year-old would certainly bring with him proven knowledge of English football although his feeble goal return may be a worry for Moyes. The midfielder only managed to net 13 times in his 123 league games at the White Hart Lane club and he only scored three times in Spain last season.
Moyes is still a known admirer of the Real Madrid man and even reportedly tried to sign him for Everton before he agreed a move to Tottenham back in 2008 but he could his revive his interest after his arrival at Old Trafford.
Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle United)
Reports have suggested that the Newcastle United midfielder could be set to move to Old Trafford as Moyes looks to form a new dynamic new-look United midfield. He wants to bring in a box-to-box midfielder in before the new season starts and Cabaye could be the ideal fit.
The technically gifted 27-year-old arrived at St James’ Park from Lille in a £4.5million deal just two years ago and was imposing for the Magpies during his first season in England although his latter campaign was disrupted by injuries.
Cabaye would be available at around £15million during the current transfer window but a move back to France would also be an option for the midfielder with Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain both seemingly keen to take him home this summer.
The French international appears unsettled in the North East and he has made it clear that he wants to take up a fresh challenge, preferably in the Premier League, despite having three years left to run on his contract at St James’ Park.
Cabaye has become unsatisfied with life on Tyneside following a sub-standard season where the Magpies went too close to relegation for comfort and he will reportedly try to depart the club before the transfer window shuts.
Marouane Fellaini (Everton)
Manchester United’s new boss is expected to step up his chase for Fellaini after the collapse of the transfer for Cesc Fabregas with less than four weeks to go of the summer transfer window.
A raid on his former club seems a preference for Moyes as he looks for a swift reunion with the Belgian international midfielder who has been so impressive player for the Toffees following his arrival from Standard Liege in 2008.
He reportedly has a £23.5million release in his contract that will see him leave Goodison Park if he joins a club in the Champions League and this is set to expire at the end of August.
Given the fact Moyes included this clause in the 25-year-old’s contract when he extended his deal last summer means that the Scot is in prime position to land the ex-Standard Liege man who would reportedly be interested in a transfer to the Premier League champions.
Man United may yet face competition from Chelsea and Arsenal who have both been rumoured with interest in the afro-haired midfielder during recent weeks but Moyes’ strong relationship could persuade him to make the switch to Old Trafford instead.
The Red Devils are looking for a midfield anchor this summer and recent reports suggest that the one-time Preston boss has outlined Felliani, who he knows so well, as his main summer target.
The corporeal midfielder netted 10 times for the Toffees last term and would certainly add dynamism to United’s central position as the club seek to replace Paul Scholes.
Claudio Marchisio (Juventus)
The talented Juventus midfielder has long been on the radar of the Old Trafford club and this could be the year when he finally moves to England as Moyes reportedly intensifies his interest following his other frustrations in the transfer market.
Marchisio made 36 appearances for Juve last term and proved a key player for the Serie A champions who have recently announced that he won’t be sold this summer.
Moyes is unlikely to be deterred and could put together a bid that will prove attractive for the Serie A champions with the player understood to be obtainable for around £25million this summer.
The Italian international, who featured during the recent Confederations Cup, is viewed as an ideal applicant to reinforce United’s midfield ahead of the new season.
Earlier this summer reports emerged that the 27-year-old had sought talks about his future at the Italian club and when quizzed about a move away, he stated: “I’d like to stay, but we must both agree I’d look around and I would be ready to consider any offers. I read the interest of Manchester United and Monaco: in these cases, I’d be proud.”
The refined midfielder is excellent on the ball and also offers the extra goals from midfield that Moyes craves, an impressive 22 in the last three years for Juventus.
Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund)
The Borussia Dortmund man has come through as one of the finest young players in world football during the past few seasons and he was a significant member of the Dortmund side that reached the Champions League final at Wembley in May.
Moyes would doubtlessly love to bring the 24-year-old wonderful attacker to Old Trafford as he seeks a versatile attacking midfielder who can capably play on the flanks as well as behind the striker and Reus definitely fits the bill.
The technically-gifted German international scored 27 goals and held 14 assists playing for both club and country last season as he firmly established himself as one of the most desirable players in world football and his superb performances have not gone unnoticed.
The new United boss has reportedly now put the playmaker as one of his top summer targets with the former Everton manager chasing goals and creativity in his new-look midfield at Old Trafford.
Reus only joined Jurgen Klopp’s side from Borussia Monchengladbach last summer but after a stunning debut campaign he could now be on the move again with the German valued at around £35million.
However the Bundesliga outfit have already stated that they won’t sell any more key players this summer after suffering the loss of starlet Mario Gotze to Bayern Munich earlier in the window and that could prevent any possible transfer for Reus until next summer.