Manchester United Rumours Archive January 06 2015

06 Jan 2015 17:31:35
Ed002, we've been linked with every name under the sun already and that will no doubt continue until the end of the window.

Instead of asking you about individual names, would it be possible for you to say whether or not we've made any progress with any deals at all in relation to this window?

Hoping for a CB, RB and CDM, can't see all three happening though.

Thanks

{Ed002's Note - I am not aware of progress per se Panebello. I will try and give a quick and dirty update:

GK: If Lindegaard moves on Valdes may well be signed on a short-term deal.

RB: Cuadrado might be a January option as might Santiago Arias. Coleman would be expensive and remains "not for sale".

CB: Mats Hummels remains the primary target, if available. The summer is perhaps more realistic, particularly given the Champions League situation. Garay could certainly be an option for the summer - he will be leaving Zenit. Alternatively, Godin if available but I doubt a first choice; Virgil van Dijk but there is interest from elsewhere and I cannot see him sitting on the bench; Miranda - only at a much, much lower fee. Terence Kongolo is of growing interest to both Manchester clubs and Southampton. The critical issue is timing - few if any will be available in January. Tyrone Mings has been looked at but remains one for the future. Otamendi was of interest to Barcelona, Zenit, Chelsea, Napoli, Manchester City and CSKA before a move to Valencia in January 2014 and a subsequent loan to Atlético Mineiro. As Otamendi has only effectively been playing in Spain since August 2014 a move in January is unlikely.

DM: Strootman has been injured for a while and whilst he remains a target the summer would be lower risk. Carvalho remains a player that both Arsenal and Manchester United are interested in and his situation remains the same. He is for sale, there is a chance of a January move, but the asking price would need to come down to make any move possible. Previous interest from Monaco, Inter, Chelsea and Juventus has gone because of the price. Atletico Madrid are wary of losing Koke soon and may yet turn to Carvalho has a replacement. Vidal is due to be sold in the summer but I suspect Juventus would listen to a decent offer now.

FW: Santos' Gabriel Barbosa continues to be of interest to Chelsea and Manchester United. However, much is expected of him and there is an agreement between Santos and Barcelona that will be exercised in 2016 in all probability.}

06 Jan 2015 19:12:43
Thanks for the update ed

06 Jan 2015 19:48:57
There's an old rumour popping up again, sneijder any news on that ed

{Ed002's Note - I expect Sneijder to stay in Turkey but there is a slim chance of a move to Juve - but he is not their first choice.}

06 Jan 2015 21:11:57
Thanks ed

06 Jan 2015 22:17:15
Thanks Ed, much appreciated!

Was hoping you'd mention Schneiderlin, hopefully by the summer that'll have changed.

07 Jan 2015 07:43:36
Was hoping for something positive on Gundogan. Slim pickings then.

07 Jan 2015 10:26:03
Cheers ed, any news on what will happen when alex songs loan deal is up?

{Ed002's Note - Try the West Ham page.}

07 Jan 2015 11:23:45
Cheers Ed002, great info as always.

You mentioned that Koke could be on the move soon, who are the interested parties and where is he likely to end up?

{Ed002's Note - Chelsea and Manchester City are interested.}

06 Jan 2015 10:51:21
Radio stations here in Dublin this morning are reporting United have submitted an offer for Hummels. Manchester evening news had the same story yesterday. Anybody around to share some light on the subject?? Would be a great signing.

06 Jan 2015 11:33:20
Would love it if we got him! Easily the best realistic signing we could make this window. Plenty of years left in him, very good experience at the top level. If not this window then summer is a must for us to go get him.

06 Jan 2015 12:37:20
I think Ed002 had said that Dortmund will want a replacement in before they will let Hummels go, which is understandable. I would hope that United get first choice quality now or leave it until the summer, no point signing average players just to see us through to the end of the season.

MU tried for a period of time during the summer to get Hummels. A couple of times there were extensive talks if rumours are to be believed. Something tells me that he is ready to move if MU and BD can agree a deal. I think we have a good chance of signing him by September and he would be an amazing signing. If Barcelona are banned from signings for the next few windows then we are in a very good position. He would be our new Vidic.

06 Jan 2015 13:40:39
Everything is pointing towards us having a good chance of getting him. Firstly there is no interest from Bayern or RM. Barcelona quite simply can't do a deal and I doubt he would be of interest to PSG who have three expensive centre halves on their books already.

I would imagine that Arsenal would bid against us but I don't think they would have the same pulling power that we do. Also signs point to him being fed up at Dortmund with how things are going.

The big question is, would he give up 6 months of CL football to move in January?

06 Jan 2015 16:05:24
A quality CB he may be, but is he not a little slow? I know Vidic wasn't the quickest but he had Rio beside him to cover. Hummels would have Smalling / Jones, would you be happy with that?

Also, if we do get Hummels or another CB this January, do you think we will persist with 3-5-2?

His positioning on the pitch is world class our defense this season is missing that hugely. Just watch smalling, jones, evans r any of the young lads they are always all over the place. Hummels would sort that out.i honestly don't know what way it will affect our formations as we are so bad this season with injuries its impossible to say anything until that gets sorted out first.

06 Jan 2015 16:40:46
Hummels would be a great signing. Put Rojo in next him, he's got the pace to compliment Hummels' composure.

Would like to see Blackett getting more games ahead of Smalling and Evans. Barring his red card against Leicester, he's looked good when he's played.

Hummels alongside either Smalling or Rojo would be fine. The guidance of Hummels and positioning combined with the covering pace of the other two. We very rarely get caught in behind anyway, I can't remember when we last did.

06 Jan 2015 19:47:11
I was against signing Hummels in the previous window, and looking a few years into the future, there are still good reasons an "all round" cb like Benatia may have been a better option. If we were among Europe's elite, that slight weakness. - A slow cb, a 3 man defence, a high line. It may have proved enough to separate us from the Bayern's or Real's.

That's all wishful thinking at this point however.

6 months on, the reality is Hummels is "a must." LVG has done well to create a resolute mentality, but it doesn't substitute or erase the threat, continuing, "terrible performances" are providing us with.

Form and results are a good thing, but they can collapse easily when 11 players are unable to get out of first gear.
For me the problem starts with the defence, continues with the defence, and ends with it too. We are a little on the slow side in attack, true, but if you watch games, pay attention to inability of the defence to move the ball into midfield. The worst culprit is Evans, closely followed by Smalling. I guarantee you by the time the ball reaches the midfield, the opposition have had time to recover their shape, and have a cup of tea in the process. - Every f**ing time! Its driving me a little mad to be honest.
This is all partly down to the new style of course. i'm not against the whole Barcelona passing system, but the reality is, if your going down that route, make sure you have the players to do it. It all makes sense now why we went for Vermalen (eventually signed by Barcelona, ) and why the one defender we did manage to sign was Marcos Rojo, another passing defender.
The point is, LVG has not been equipped to play his game properly. that's partly his fault. He could of got someone in at the back, on the cheap. Anyone really, so long as they could do possession control. Its also partly Woodwards and the owners fault, for not thinking it was an urgent priority to replace 2 legendary centrebacks departing in the same season, especially with a sudden switch to 3 cb's.
I just hope they don't slow play it this window. Spend next seasons budget if you must, I really don't care, just make sure that you don't leave a half working machine come the 1st of feb.

06 Jan 2015 23:29:02
Hummels besides varane would be deadly