The new faces that could help bring the title back to Old Trafford.
New Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has an extremely tough task on his hands next season to try and bring success back to Old Trafford after a previous 12 months of disappointment.
The Red Devils finished the 2013/14 campaign with their lowest ever Premier League points total and no European football for the first time since 1981 and as a result many changes are expected at the club.
One area that is set for an overhaul is the playing squad, where van Gaal has many problems to address and will look to bring in some new faces in the transfer market as a result.
Here are five players that CaughtOffside thinks will helped the Dutchman regain the English league title.
Cesc Fabregas, FC Barcelona
With the Spaniard unwanted at the Nou Camp and available for around £30m, van Gaal may well be moved to spend a large chunk of his transfer budget on Fabregas.
This is because central midfield was an area of concern for United last term, with Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini and Tom Cleverley all failing to impress – with the latter expected to be sold this summer.
With eight years of experience in English football with Arsenal, Fabregas knows what it takes to succeed in the Premier League and is also regarded as a truly world-class performer.
Source: Daily Express.
Mats Hummels, Borussia Dortmund
The departure of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic this summer means that the side’s central defensive partnership of the last eight-and-a-half years is set to be broken down in one fell swoop.
Therefore the heart of defence is desperate for recruitment, with doubts remaining over the credentials of both Phil Jones and Chris Smalling in the role.
There would be no such concern over Hummels however, with the Germany international considered to be among the best centre-backs on the planet and is a stalwart for both club and country.
Source: Daily Mail.
Yevhen Konoplyanka, Dnipro Dnpiropetrovsk
Next up for improvement is attacking midfield, where the side lacked any sort of consistent creativity throughout the past year despite having several options.
Both Nani and Ashley Young are considered to be below par and the former is heavily linked with a move away from the Theatre of Dreams, whilst competition is needed for Antonio Valencia on the flanks.
Van Gaal favours the approach of using wingers and Konoplyanka is a Ukraine international who almost made the £12m move to England in January after agreeing a deal with Liverpool.
Source: Mirror.
Luke Shaw, Southampton
This transfer rumour has been rumbling on for some time now, but with the Saints enduring something of an exodus currently this could be the ideal time for Shaw to complete the switch.
The left-back has been impressing greatly over the past two years at St Mary’s and that is why the Hampshire club are demanding £30m for their talented 18-year-old.
Mauricio Pochettino and Rickie Lambert’s departure from the south coast club in the last week is expected to trigger a mass exit from the playing staff, of which Shaw is likely to be next.
Source: BBC.
Kevin Strootman, AS Roma
Finally this is another target for the Red Devils in central midfield and a player van Gaal knows well having worked with the 24-year-old for the past two years in the Netherlands national team.
Strootman made the move to Roma in 2013 from PSV Eindhoven and was greatly impressing in the Italian capital before being struck down with a cruciate ligament injury.
It means the Dutchman will be out of action until December, but if United can also sign Fabregas then they are prepared to wait until the midfielder gets back to full fitness.
Source: Daily Express.
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