Manchester United’s Potential Summer 2012 Transfer Targets

Manchester United had a decent last season as they finished second – just on goal difference – behind city rivals, Manchester City in the league but were very disappointing in both European – both the Champions League and Europa League – and the domestic cup competitions. 

This summer, United will look to strengthen their squad as they look to win back the Premier League title from their noisy neigbhours and also try and win the Champions League for the first time since the 2008. Sir Alex Ferguson has already strengthen his squad this summer by signing the Japanese international Shinji Kagawa and the highly-rated youngster Nick Powell, but the Red Devils will have to bring in some more new names if they want to challenge for trophies on all fronts. Here are Manchester United’s potential transfer targets the summer..

LEIGHTON BAINES – EVERTON (DEFENDER)

The Everton left-back has been linked with a move to Old Trafford for some time now and its highly likely that the England international will be a United player before the start of the season. Patrice Evra’s form dipped last term and the Frenchman is not getting any young. With Fabio away on loan at QPR, United need a new left-back and the 27-year-old would be a great choice. Baines, who is very good at set-pieces, is valued around £15m and would be a quality replacement for Evra.

MATS HUMMELS – BORUSSIA DORTMUND (DEFENDER)

The German defender had an outstanding Euros in Poland/Ukraine this summer and was one of the best performers for his country. The former Bayern Munich youth player has been one of the reasons for Dortmund’s success in the past couple of years as they did the League and Cup double last year. The Turkish origin defender, who is rated around £30m, has stated he is very happy to stay at Dortmund having sign new contract recently, but he would be a great signing for the Red Devils and with Rio Ferdinand past his best, he would be a great replacement for the veteran.

ALEX WITSEL – BENFICA (MIDFIELDER)

Portuguese giants Benfica are ready to cash in on the Belgium international, just a year after they signed him from Standard Liege. The 23-year-old was instrumental in helping the Portuguese side make the quarter-finals of the Champions League last season. Manchester United are interested in signing the £20m rated midfielder as they look to add more depth and quality in their midfield. Chelsea are also interested in him and a chance to play alongside his Belgium teammates – Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku – might just incline him towards Stamford Bridge.

LUKA MODRIC – TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (MIDFIELDER)

Luka Modric is one name that has been on the Manchester United radar for some time now. With the playmaker ready to leave White Hart Lane this summer in search of regular Champions League football, Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to bring the £36m rated Croatian international to Old Trafford. But according to the reports in various papers in Spain, Modric has already agreed a deal with the La Liga champions Real Madrid and is expected to sign for Jose Mourinho’s side before July 15.

JOAO MOUTINHO – FC PORTO (MIDFIELDER)

Moutinho has attracted a lot of interest from the Premier League this summer after some putting in some impressive displays for Portugal at the Euros. The £25m rated midfielder has been a United target since his Sporting Lisbon days and is seen as an alternative for Luka Modric. Some reports claim that the Red Devils have already launched a bid for the Portuguese international, but they will have to battle with the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham – who are also interested in him – to bring him to Old Trafford.

KEVIN STROOTMAN – PSV EINDHOVEN (MIDFIELDER)

Sir Alex Ferguson is said to be interested in the the Dutch midfielder who has been dubbed as the ‘new Roy Keane’ because of his combative style of football. With the future of Darren Fletcher uncertain and with number of injury prone players in the squad, Strootman could be the answer to all of Ferguson’s problems. The PSV star has attracted a lot of interest because of his impressive performances over last couple of years and was also a part of the Dutch squad in Poland/Ukraine. The £15m rated Dutchman, who can also play as a holding midfielder, would no doubt strengthen the United midfield.

JAMES RODRIGUEZ – FC PORTO (MIDFIELDER)

The young Colombian is another player linked with a move to Old Trafford many times in the last couple of months. The 21-year-old had an impressive last season in the Portuguese league with FC Porto and has attracted interested from a host of Premier League clubs. With the future of Nani doubtful, Rodriguez could be a great addition to squad but it looks highly unlike that United and Sir Alex Ferguson would be ready to pay around £30m for the midfielder who has been dubbed the ‘new Cristiano Ronaldo’.

LUCAS MOURA – SAO PAULO (MIDFIELDER)

Lucas Moura is one of the most talented youngsters and the most hottest property in world football. The 19-year-old Brazilian has attracted interested from almost every top club in Europe and Manchester United are said to be one of them. According to the latest gossip columns, United have sent a delegation to Brazil to convince the £35m rated Brazil international – who has already been capped 13 times by his country – and his family about a move to Old Trafford, where he will join his fellow compatriots – Anderson, Rafael and Fabio.

MOUSSA DEMBELE – FULHAM (MIDFIELDER)

Dembele has had a successful time, so far, at Craven Cottage since joining Fulham in 2010. The forward who scored 24 times for AZ Alkmaar, has adapted very well to a midfield role in the Fulham team and was very impressive in the previous season. Dembele has just a year left on his contract and is in no hurry to extend it because of interest from several big Premier League sides like United and Chelsea. Some papers reported that the Reds Devils had an offer for the Belgium international rejected by Fulham over the weekend.

IKER MUNIAIN – ATHLETIC BILBAO (STRIKER)

Iker Muniain is another teenager who is on the Manchester United shopping list. The 19-year-old Spaniard caught Ferguson’s eye after he played an important role in knocking the Red Devils out of the Europa League last season. The versatile striker, who can play upfront or on the wings or just behind the striker in the midfield, scored the winner in the first leg and impressed in the second leg in Spain. The Bilbao forward, who made his international debut this year, is rated around £25m and would no doubt be great signing for the team.

ROBIN VAN PERSIE – ARSENAL (STRIKER)

Along with Juventus and Manchester City, United are also interested in signing the Arsenal skipper – Robin van Persie, who has said that he won’t be signing a new deal at the Emirates Stadium. Van Persie was in some outstanding goal scoring form last season and ended the league season as the Premier League’s top goal scorer with 30 goals. With Michael Owen having already left and Dimitar Berbatov expected to leave, there is place for another striker in the squad and Van Persie will be an outstanding option. The Rooney-Van Persie combination up front will be just too deadly to deal with for any team. With just one year left on the 28-year-old’s contract, the Gunners are expected to cash in on the forward this summer and an offer around £16m-£20m may well be enough.

ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI – BORUSSIA DORTMUND (STRIKER)

The Poland international, who scored the opening goal of the UEFA EURO 2012, is another Dortmund player to be linked with a move to United this summer. Lewandowski has had an incredible past 12 months and has scored 30 goals including a hat-trick in the 5-2 win over Bayern Munich in the German Cup final. The striker has just two years left on his contract and has attracted interest from many Premier League clubs including Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea.

Manchester United’s Top Ten Summer Transfer Targets

Manchester United are 8 points clears of their noisy neighbors Manchester City at the top of the table and are closing on their 20th league title with just 6 games remaining this season. But Sir Alex Ferguson will be kidding himself if he says that this United team was not one of his weakest during his 25 years at Old Trafford.

Sir Alex Ferguson will look to strengthen his squad by adding a couple of players during the summer. Here, Into The Top Corner has a look at United’s possible ten summer targets.

1. Christian Eriksen (Ajax)

The Danish international has been very impressive for the Dutch giants this season with 7 goals and 18 assists. He also fits Ferguson’s policy of buying young talent and developing them into superstars. It will be very difficult for Ajax to prevent the teenager from join Manchester United if the right offer is made.

2. Luka Modric (Tottenham)

Manchester United lacked a creative midfielder towards the end of 2011 with Tom Cleverley, Anderson and Darren Fletcher all out with injuries. That was the key for the return of Paul Scholes from retirement and since then United have become stronger and stronger as the season progressed. Luka Modric has been one of the key performers for Spurs this season and he fits the bill for Ferguson’s. Even though Tottenham are riding high in the league it will be very difficult for Redknapp to prevent the Croatian international from securing a dream move to Old Trafford. But United will have to break their transfer record (32.5m for Dimitar Berbatov) to acquire his services.

3. Eden Hazard (Lille)

The Belgium international has been heavily linked to all the major European clubs throughout the season as he is expected to leave the French champions during the summer. Manchester United have been the latest name added to that list as Sir Alex Ferguson personally scouted him during the Ligue 1 match between Lille and Lyon. Like Modric, Hazard is a playmaker and will fit well in United’s style of play but again the transfer fee could be a stumbling block.

4. Nicolas Gaitan (Benfica)

Having joined Benfica last year, Gaitan has settled in well this season and has been their star performer in the league as well as the Champions League. The Argentine is said to be a player Sir Alex Ferguson has scouted extensively and the Benfica man impressed in encounters against United in the Champions League. There were also some rumours in December last year that a deal has been agreed between the two clubs but there has been no concrete proof of it. Gaitan naturally being a winger and United already having the likes of Ashley Young, Antonio Valencia, Nani and Park Ji-Sung in their ranks, the question will be do United need another winger?

5. Mats Hummels (Dortmund)  

With Rio Ferdinand not getting any young and Nemanja Vidic suffering with injuries United need a physically strong, tactically fine, composed and an influential figure at the back and Borussia Dortmund’s Mats Hummels comes in that criteria. The German international has been the heart of Dortmund’s back four and his partnership with Neven Subotic in the center of defence has seen the Bundesliga champions keep 12 clean sheets this season. He is considered one of the best defenders in the Bundesliga and also in Europe.

6. Jordi Alba (Valencia)

I have said earlier in one of my articles that Manchester United should sell Patrice Evra this summer and I stand by it. Evra has been a very good attacking threat this season but defensively he has been poor. His age is catching up on him and thats the reason why he is getting slower day by day. Jordi Alba will be a good replacement or successor for Patrice Evra. The Valencia left-back is also now a part of Vicente Del Bosque’s Spain set-up and at the age of 22, he looks a very good prospect.

7. Iker Muniain (Athletic Bilbao)

Iker Muniain was one of the standout performers against United in Europa League. The youngster is a dynamic, creative midfielder capable of playing on both the wings and in the middle of the park which makes him a valuable asset. Just 19, he already has over 100 domestic appearances to his name and it’s only a matter of time before he breaks into Spain’s national team starting XI.

8. Javi Martinez (Athletic Bilbao)

Sir Alex has been a long-term admirer of Javi Martinez, but his price tag remains a big issue to United. Martinez, 23, can slot in at the defensive midfield as well as in the centre-back position. Spanish midfielder could add some guile and steel to a midfield that could do with strengthening. The youngster has huge potential and ambitions which cannot be fulfilled at Bilbao and could opt for a move to England.

9.  Jack Rodwell (Everton)

The young midfielder has been a long term target of Manchester United and with financial issues at Goodison Park a good offer from Manchester United may well be considered. The England under-21 international has a lot potential in him to be an England international and he knows well, that Old Trafford will be the best place for him. A move to United will also see Rodwell link with his former Under-21 team-mates Phil Jones and Chris Smalling.

10. Chieck Tiote (Newcastle) 

Manchester United never replaced Roy Keane when he left the club in 2005, they brought in Owen Hargreaves for big money but he spent most of his time with physio and so United have always missed an out and out defensive midfielder in key European away games. The manner in which the hard tackling midfielder, Tiote has adapted to the life in the Premier League has impressed the Scot enough to consider making a bid for the Ivorian in the summer.