Man Utd line up £15m move for Torino's Matteo Darmian as Dani Alves alternative

Darmian is a full-back who can play on either side of the field but Loui Van Gaal is particularly keen to strengthen down the right.

Reports earlier this week suggested that United had reached a preliminary agreement with Barcelona's Dani Alves that would see the Brazilian move to Old Trafford at the end of the season.

But the Mirror suggests Van Gaal considers the need more pressing and will look to sign Darmian in January instead.

Van Gaal has had Darmian watched on several occasions this season as he looks to bring in an alternative to Rafael.

Van Gaal Issues Warning To Manchester United Captain Wayne Rooney

Rooney is banned for Manchester United’s next two games.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has made it clear that captain Wayne Rooney will not walk straight back into the first team when he returns from suspension, Goal.com.


The 28-year-old was sent off against West Ham on September 27th and will miss United’s games against West Bromwich Albion and Chelsea as he completes his ban.

United weighing up a move to bring Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross back to Old Trafford.

Manchester United have turned to a surprising name in their chase for a solid central defender in the January transfer window, with the Daily Star reporting that former Old Trafford youngster and current Stoke City captain Ryan Shawcross is the latest man to come under consideration from the United hierarchy.

 Shawcross was sold by former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson when he was just a youngster, joining Stoke City when they were a Championship side and helping them into the top flight under Tony Pulis, where Shawcross has established himself as perhaps the Potters’ key player and one of the most consistent centre backs in the Premier League.

Despite controversy surrounding a challenge on Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey that left the Gunners star with a serious injury, Shawcross is generally respected as a solid, consistent and honest Premier League performer who United could perhaps secure for a reasonable fee, with United have negotiated a buy-back fee in the deal that originally took Shawcross to the Britannia Stadium.

With United having reportedly been quoted £12m for Aston Villa centre back Ron Vlaar and Mats Hummels proving difficult to prise away from Borussia Dortmund, Shawcross could represent a bargain solution – whilst he is also at any where he can continue to improve under the tutelage of van Gaal and perhaps establish himself as a permanent fixture in the United defence.

Ryan Giggs tells Manchester United to prove themselves against title rivals City and Chelsea

Ryan Giggs has challenged Manchester United to prove they can stand alongside title rivals Chelsea and Manchester City.

United face Chelsea and City after Monday's trip to West Brom, with Giggs acknowledging both encounters as a chance for the Reds to assess how far they have come under Louis van Gaal.

Giggs, assistant to Van Gaal , said: "Chelsea have probably been the standout team so far with City just behind them and we want to be up there testing ourselves against those teams.

"We feel that we do belong up there but we perhaps haven't shown it consistently this season."
United have won three of their last four Premier League games to rise to fourth in the table, with Giggs confident they can kick on.

"We've shown glimpses over the last few weeks and hopefully we'll have a lot of players coming back for those games," said Giggs.
"The form has slowly begun to get better and better and we want to hit form going into those matches."

Real Madrid to Launch £24m Bid for Man United keeper David de Gea

Old Trafford custodian on Bernabeu radar.

Real Madrid are readying a £24m bid for Man United keeper David de Gea according to the Daily Star.

The Bernabeu side apparently see the 23 year old Old Trafford star as a long term replacement for Iker Casillas though Louis van Gaal is clearly not keen on such an offer, with Man United readying a new £120k a week contract offer to help persuade the former Atletico Madrid man to turn down the possibility of a move back to his hometown.

De Gea has jumped ahead of Casillas in Vicente del Bosque’s national team set-up and is arguably Man United’ most consistent performer over the past 18 months.

Man United paid Atletico £17.8m for de Gea back in 2011 and after a shaky start the Spanish international has matured into one of the best custodians in European football.

One imagines that de Gea may become more likely to consider a move back to Madrid if Man United have failed to secure a Champions League berth for next season.

Casillas spent 18 months warming the Real Madrid bench, overlooked by both Jose Mourinho and then Carlo Ancelotti in favour of Diego Lopez, aside from Champions League duties, though this term the hugely experienced keeper was once again first choice at the Spanish giants only to drop a number of clangers for club and country.

Manchester City On Alert As Manchester United Can’t Afford Cristiano Ronaldo Signing

City threaten to swoop for top United target.



Manchester City could get one over their local rivals Manchester United in an attempt to sign one of their neighbours’ former greats in Cristiano Ronaldo, according to the Daily Express.

 The Premier League champions are one of a number of teams keeping an eye on Ronaldo’s situation at the Bernabeu, with recent transfer speculation suggesting that he could be on his way back to the Premier League next summer.

United are desperate to re-sign their former hero in a big-money move, but may be unable to afford it due to their significant debts, which won’t have been aided by their big spending on new players this summer, with over £150m going on the likes of Angel Di Maria, Radamel Falcao and Ander Herrera.

City now hope to swoop as their financial situation looks good after some relatively low-key signings this summer, with plenty for Manuel Pellegrini to spend if he does pursue the signing of the Portuguese superstar.
Ronaldo has himself hinted he would like to return to United one day, but it is thought that he could also be open to returning to Manchester to turn out for their arch rivals if the money is right.

Man United Eyeing Arturo Vidal, As Juventus Confirm Newfound Desire To Sell

Could Arturo Vidal be heading for the Premier League in January…

Manchester United have been handed renewed hope in their pursuit of Arturo Vidal, after Juventus reportedly confirmed their desire to sell the player, in order to fund a bid for Juan Mata.

 This latest update from Italian source Corriere dello Sport completes a dramatic u-turn from the Serie A giants, who fought tooth-and-nail to keep the Chilean midfielder at the club during the summer, resisting speculation linking the player with a move to Old Trafford.

Juve are now openly looking to sell the player – who has been criticised for his bad attitude and late night clubbing already this season – and will accept offers of around the £30m mark. United, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund are all thought to be interested.

They then plan to replace Vidal with United’s Spanish midfielder Juan Mata, who has been regularly linked with moves away from the club since the summer arrivals of Angel di Maria and Radamel Falcao, which have reduced his chances in the first-team.

Mata has only played 19 times for the club since arriving from Chelsea in January, in a then club record £37.1m deal. The 26-year-old would likely be willing to leave, if the move ensured him game time and a speedy return to Champions League football.

Manchester United To Cure Defensive Woes With £4m Bargain Move For Premier League Rock

United eyeing January move for Ron Vlaar from Aston Villa.


Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is ready to turn to a tried and trusted old hand of his Netherlands side, report the Express, with United lining up a January swoop for Aston Villa central defender Ron Vlaar in a bargain deal.

 Vlaar was a vital part of van Gaal’s Dutch side at the summer World Cup, offering defensive stability and experience to a Dutch side otherwise largely lacking in both and, with his contract at Villa due to expire at the end of the season, van Gaal may well feel that he represents a cost effective and trustworthy short term cure to his issues in the centre back position.

United have seen the likes of Jonny Evans, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling struck down by injury during the early part of this season and, with none of his centre backs showing any real form, it is a given that the Red Devils will be in the market for one once the transfer window reopens.

Vlaar has so far shown few signs of being willing to extend his deal at Villa Park and, should there be no further movement before January, Paul Lambert’s side are likely to be willing to accept a bid of around £4m rather than lose Vlaar for nothing at the end of the season.

Whilst United may well be holding out hope for a world class central defensive buy, such as Mats Hummels from Borussia Dortmund, they are likely to accept that such an option is unlikely to be readily available in the winter window.

David Moyes Ready To Return To Management After Manchester United Nightmare

Former United boss missing football.

Former Manchester United and Everton boss David Moyes has told the Daily Telegraph that he is keen to return to management after his nightmare spell in charge at Old Trafford

 The Scot spent just nine months in charge of United before being dismissed for a terrible run of form, though he had previously been a highly regarded Premier League coach for his work done during his time at Everton.

Moyes has been linked with a number of jobs since leaving United, and though he has not been specific about where he would like to work next, he has admitted a temptation to try his luck with a position abroad.
Moyes draws inspiration from the likes of the late Sir Bobby Robson and Terry Venables, who both left Britan to work with foreign clubs, and he says that there isn’t enough of that in the modern game.

The 51-year-old was linked with the Galatasaray job during the summer, though it eventually went to former Italy boss Cesare Prandelli, but it may be that he will be keeping an eye on similar opportunities in the future rather than returning immediately to a job with a Premier League club.

“I’m ready to go,” he said. “I’ve no time-scale. I’m enjoying the break but I’m a football man and I want to work. I feel my best years are ahead of me and I do feel I am still a young manager. I’ve lots to learn and lots I want to put into practice.

“Picking my next job is vitally important, I’m well aware of that. I’ve an open mind as to what it will be and where it will be – if it’s in the Premier League or in the UK, that’s fine.

“But if it’s abroad then I’m okay with that. I have always been an advocate of players and coaches going abroad if that’s the right opportunity. It doesn’t happen, not enough anyway.

“You look at how well Terry Venables did in Spain and how well Bobby Robson did – they are up there with the great managers and both had periods working in Europe.”
Manchester United news

Cristiano Ronaldo Worth €1 Billion - Agent Jorge Mendes

Real Madrid star is apparently worth a very large sum indeed.


Cristiano Ronaldo has been heavily linked with a possible Man United return in recent weeks and now the Real Madrid star’s agent claims that the 29 year old is well worth his astonishing €1bn (£800m) release clause according to Goal.com.

 Ronaldo has been in fine form, even by his very own high standards, this term and is clearly a player well worth a massive sum should he leave the Bernabeu though one imagines the fee needed to trigger his release clause isn’t one Man United are about to fork out.

Agent Jorge Mendes has recently stated that his client will see out his career at Real Madrid and has been full of praise for the Portuguese international.

“In addition to being the best footballer in history, he is the greatest athlete of all time,”
“You cannot compare him with anyone.

“He is the best player in the biggest sport in the world, in which there is more competition than in any other. For that reason, he is the best sportsman in the world.”

When questioned about Ronaldo’s worth on the transfer market Mendes added;
“The price that is stated in his release clause – €1bn.”

It is perhaps worth noting that despite Ronaldo’s phenomenal form during his time at Real Madrid the former Man United has seen his side win just one La Liga title in his five completed campaigns in the Spanish capital.

Ronaldo’s goal-scoring record is second to none with his tally of 269 goals in 257 appearances for Real Madrid is awe-inspiring to say the least.

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