Premier League news: Manchester United's January transfer targets
Apart from Manchester United’s League Cup humiliation at the hands of West Ham United, everything has gone according to plan for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side so far leading up to the busy Christmas period. They qualified as group winners
for the Champions League, are still in the FA Cup and are very good contenders for the title.
January is just round the corner, and with January comes the opportunity for every manager to bolster his squad. The big question is: Will Ferguson be looking to flex his financial arms in the transfer market?
The question cannot be answered definitely right now, but there certainly are plenty of targets in the market that the United manager should keep tabs on.
Here is a look at the potential new recruits for the Red Devils in the midseason transfer window:
Goalkeeper
With the signature of Anders Lindegaard secured, it seems highly unlikely that United will be bringing in any other keeper in the January transfer window. However, with the end of the season getting closer, the
need to find a permanent replacement for Edwin van der Sar is growing heavy on the manager’s shoulders; and with time looking to be almost up for Tomasz Kuszczak, it seems more and more likely that United will be looking to David de Gea of Atletico Madrid
or Manuel Neuer of Schalke 04. A summer move is still more likely for a new goalkeeper is more likely. But with David de Gea admitting recently that he is keen on a transfer to England, you can never be sure.
Defence
Defence is one department that Manchester United do not need any reinforcements in as the manager will be hoping that his first-choice central pairing of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic stay fit for as long as
possible; and with Rafael da Silva, Fabio da Silva, Patrice Evra, Wesley Brown, Gary Neville, Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans and John O’Shea also in the squad, Ferguson definitely does not need any immediate back-up for his defence.
Midfield
United’s midfield has been their Achilles’ heel in recent times, and the missing piece in the Manchester United jigsaw is perhaps a creative midfielder. Marko Marin has long been tracked by Ferguson and he has all that United need in their midfield playmaker,
but as he has already played in the Champions League, he may be more a summer target than in January. The same is the case with Gareth Bale and Luka Modric, both of whom have been linked with a move to Old Trafford in recent times. Ashley Young of Aston Villa
is also not going to be very keen for a move in January. That only leaves Mats Moller Daehli, the 15-year-old creative midfielder who has been described by his Stabaek coach as “a little bit of Xavi and a little bit of Messi”. It is believed that both United
and Stabaek have already agreed on fees and the youngster will soon be packing his bags for the chill of Manchester.
Attack
A lot has been said about Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen’s possible departure from Old Trafford, but the fact of the matter is that Ferguson will not be willing to sell Berbatov at any cost this January. The Bulgarian has been among the goal-scorers for
United recently and the manager has faith in his abilities. The only attacking player Ferguson could bring in this January is the Udinese winger Alexis Sanchez. Sanchez just recently handed in a transfer request that has alerted clubs all over Europe, but
with the Argentinean keen on moving to England, United are the best possible suitors.
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