Jan 29
United poised to make one further January transfer bid
According to ESPN, Manchester United are set to make an £8 million bid for Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama before the January transfer window closes this week.
Celtic are, however, likely to reject any January offer due to the player’s importance to them during their ongoing Champions League campaign, but it would be seen as a statement of United’s intent to jump to the front of the chasing pack for his signature.
The Kenyan’s performances have attracted interest from a number of clubs in the last few months and, with several preparing to open talks with the Scottish Premier League champions and the player, it is believed United feel they must act now.
United and central midfielders
United’s lack of midfield options has been a well-debated topic in recent years and has seen United linked with plenty of ‘midfield enforcers’ in recent years. Ferguson has resisted the calls to strengthen in midfield though, trusting old hands (Paul Scholes), backing players to return from injury (Fletcher, Anderson) and home-grown talent (Tom Cleverley) to partner Michael Carrick in central midefield, with Giggs, Rooney, Kagawa and Jones also playing an infrequent part in the middle.
In fact, if you were a betting person putting money on United’s next signing, you only have to look at United’s recent set of signings (Zaha, RVP, Buttner, Jones, Young, Hernandez, Henriquez, De Gea, Jones, Kagawa) to realise that at best, United will sign a winger or an attacking midfielder but no one to strengthen the middle of the park.
So could United really be about to sign a midfielder – even if it is for the summer (like the Zaha deal)? It’s a bit of a lottery and you feel that with Giggs and Scholes nearing retirement (although we say that every year), it’ll be a massive gamble NOT to sign an experienced centre mid, but this isn’t a free bet or a opening deposit from 888, you don’t get a second chance at United. Having seen RVP’s impact at the club (the significance of the #20 shirt is not lost on the player), one can only hope that whoever Ferguson signs next proves to be a similar hit.
The next United signing
Sir Alex Ferguson took a look at Wanyama during Celtic’s 4-0 win at home to Dundee United last week. Nevertheless, it appears the player may only be a fall-back midfield option for United in the event that they fail to land their main target, PSV Eindhoven’s Kevin Strootman.
The move for the highly-rated Dutch player is understood to be threatened, however, by United’s unhappiness with his agent – and that could mean they are prepared to look elsewhere.
Who do you think should be on top of Sir Alex’s list, Wanyama or Strootman? Or will he spring a surprise and bring in a more experienced player to push United forward in Europe?
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Tags: Transfer Rumours
The_Philosopher (404)
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Stephen (147)
wanyama the best young player in world
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£8Million for Wanyama? Are you really that deluded? Maybe £8Million for every year left on his contract!! (2.5 years = £20Million) The arrogance of the english premier league knows no bounds. Can you imagine what Fergie would say if someone offered £8Million for Paul Scholes when he was in his pomp? Scholes was one of the best midfield players in history in my opinion but he can’t tackle, Wanyama has bossed both Inter and Barcelona’s midfield this season and he’s only 21 and getting better all the time. He’d be a collossus in the middle of Man Utds team but if you really want him pay us what he’s worth
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I tink wanyama is beta
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It will be a great pleasure to see wanyama in Mau Utd jessey this january, we will very solid and dangerous to any team in the epl..snap him up fergie.
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I think de ealier de beta if fergie really want to capture his prey.
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I am failing to see the point of buying Wanyama now if he won’t be able to play in the Champions League. He is exactly what we need, but we won’t be able to play him in the most important competition we’re playing in. Getting Strootman makes more sense.
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Get the two of them sir alex there are the fewtur of manu
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Can’t wait 2 see u wanyama in UNITED….4ever Utd!!
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wanyama is one of the best signing in traford bt with no help in champions league i thnk strootman is the best choice
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Frank Lampard would have been the ideal signing but he’s going to America by the looks of things.
Victor Wanyama or Kevin Strootman doesn’t really make a difference to me. Ferguson just needs to buy someone.
We have Tom Cleverley who is geting better and better.
Anderson is a great player when he’s fit.
Michael Carrick has been the rock in our midfield.
Fletcher could possibly come back after surgery and play as a back up central defensive midfielder. He might even be willing to accept lower wages because of all the time he’s spent away from the game, so he wouldn’t be too expensive to keep around for his experience and knowledge of United’s culture.
Then we have the oungsters coming through the academy. Davide Petrucci, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Jesse Lingard, Larnel Cole etc.
So our midfield is full of potential. Whether thats world class potential is another matter.
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man u need 2 buy strootman @ all cost dis january. united will stand divide will fall.
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have seen Wanyama play in person for Celtic numerous times over the last year and a half, he is potentially world class. Can pass, shoot, tackle. Everything a United midfielder needs to be able to do. Unlikely we would get him for £8 million, more likely to be closer to £15 million
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