Those that turned down a switch to Old Trafford.
It’s been a tough start to 2014/15 for Manchester United and despite spending more than £150m on new talent over the summer there were several targets that simply bypassed the club.
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Here are 10 of the best.
William Carvalho
This defensive midfielder was strongly linked with a move to the Premier League, with Arsenal and Chelsea also interested, but in the end due to Sporting’s extortionate asking price the 22-year-old stayed in the Primeria Liga and the Red Devils signed Daley Blind instead.
Source: Mirror.
Juan Cuadrado
It appeared to be a two-horse race for this Colombia international between United and FC Barcelona and Cuadrado looked like the ideal option for Louis van Gaal’s new wing-back options, but in the end Fiorentina ensured they kept hold of their prized asset.
Source: Daily Mail.
Mats Hummels
This is perhaps one of the most key losses to van Gaal’s squad, with a decent centre-back the thing that is clearly lacking currently, but as Borussia Dortmund captain it’s easy to see why the 2014 World Cup winner didn’t leave the Signal Iduna Park.
Source: Guardian.
Sami Khedira
Having entered the final year of his current contract at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu it was thought that the midfielder would be leaving, but despite interest from the Gunners and Blues as well, Real Madrid managed to retain the German.
Source: Mirror.
Toni Kroos
This midfield ace revealed that he did not want to go to Old Trafford and instead chose Los Blancos and completed a £19m cut-price switch there having entered the final year of his contract with Bayern Munich.
Source: Mirror.
Miranda
Another defender that United missed out on now, as despite the exodus from the Vicente Calderon Stadium this summer the Brazilian decided to commit his future to Atletico Madrid and as a result snub van Gaal.
Source: Independent.
Thomas Muller
The new boss was hoping to use his links with Bayern to tempt some of their stars to the Theatre of Dreams and on the back of a brilliant World Cup with Germany, Muller would have been a marquee signing, but instead he decided to stay with Pep Guardiola’s men.
Source: Guardian.
Arjen Robben
Another star of the reigning Bundesliga champions and someone van Gaal knows well from their time working together with the Netherlands national team, but like Muller the 30-year-old decided he could achieve more success in Germany than back in England.
Source: Telegraph.
Thomas Vermaelen
As things became desperate for defensive recruitment the club looked towards a centre-back who couldn’t get a game at the Emirates Stadium, but were even trumped for Vermaelen by Barcelona.
Source: Independent.
Arturo Vidal
Finally it’s perhaps the most high profile of the lot and someone that could still make the move to the Red Devils in January, although whether the side needs more midfielders when their defence is so lacking is another issue.
Source: Metro.