Manchester United Acting Fast
The Premier League season has only just come to an end and already the transfer rumours have begun. Having finished second to Manchester City but way off the pace set by Pep Guardiola’s team, Manchester United have a lot of work to do if they are to topple their neighbours next season.
It appears much of that work is going to be done in the transfer market and the Red Devils have not been slow as they look to strengthen their team for next season.
Alderweireld
Tottenham Hotspur defender, Toby Alderweireld has been linked with a move away from the club this season and Mauricio Pochettino will be keen to cash in on the player who can leave for £25 million in one years’ time.
The Belgian international has performed well for Spurs in the Premier League and will definitely improve a Manchester United defence which has made too many mistakes this season. An example of which came in the FA Cup final against Chelsea when Phil Jones was caught out by Eden Hazard and fouled the forward to concede a penalty and the only goal of the game.
Jose Mourinho will be keen to cut out those type of errors next season and Alderweireld could be the man for the job. The defender will become the first choice centre back at Old Trafford next season and it will be up to the current players to prove they deserve a place alongside the former Ajax man.
Manchester United will be aiming to improve all aspects of their play next season and that includes the midfield. Mourinho is looking to steal a march on Guardiola by completing a deal for Brazilian midfielder Fred this week.
Fred has been selected to play for Brazil in the World Cup and Manchester City have been strongly linked with a move for the player in recent months. However, it appears the Premier League champions have switched their focus to Napoli’s Jorginho and that paves the way for Manchester United to complete a deal.
The 25 year old will be in England with his country ahead of the World Cup and that could allow Mourinho to complete the deal before the tournament begins. If the Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder was to have a good tournament, this may alert some of the other big clubs around Europe, so Manchester United are trying to act fast to prevent losing the player to a major rival.
“We will sell Fred to a good and strong club, do not doubt it,” Rinat Akhmetov, Shakhtar’s president told the Great Football program on Ukraine’s Football 1. “He will cost the potential buyer more than Fernandinho and be even more expensive than Alex Teixeira.”
If that’s true, it means Manchester United will need to pay over £40 million to land the player but if it gets the deal done early, it may be a price they are willing to meet.