da mrbet: Manchester United are expected to keep themselves especially busy in the transfer market this summer, with The Daily Mail claiming Louis van Gaal will be given yet another £150million war-chest.
da luck: Indeed, there has been tangible progress at Old Trafford this season but the Red Devils still seem to be a few top class additions away from becoming a title-winning side once again.
But with such audacious sums being spent, errors seem inevitable – so it’s vital LVG outmanoeuvres the transfer market’s many, many booby-traps; the low-risk-high-reward signings that amount to nothing, the bargain bosmans who break their legs on the first week of training but end up on the wage bill for the next four years, the big names who struggle to live up to their preceding reputations, the ‘next Paul Scholes’ prodigies who end up more like the next Nicky Butt.
So to ensure United’s transfer bounty isn’t inadvertently poured down the drain, we at Football FanCast have listed the FIVE rumoured targets they should avoid at all costs this summer.
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RADAMEL FALCAO
Despite netting just four times in all competitions during his one-year loan stint at Old Trafford, some sources remain adamant Manchester United could still sign Radamel Falcao permanently this summer.
Admittedly, if Monaco are willing to drop to £20million and Louis van Gaal can revitalise the 29 year-old to half the striker that netted an incredible 142 goals in 178 appearances throughout his spells at Porto and Atletico Madrid, then he’ll be worth every penny.
But surely this season has proved, before anything else, the Colombian international lacks the physical prowess to transition his world-class netting potency to the Premier League.
Furthermore, having endured serious injuries either side of his £55million move to Ligue 1 in summer 2013, one has to ponder whether Falcao will ever restore his former powers.
HUGO LLORIS
Don’t get me wrong, Hugo Lloris is a fantastic goalkeeper and probably the best candidate to fill David De Gea’s void at Old Trafford next season.
The France international has continually demonstrated his world-class shot-stopping abilities since first arriving at Tottenham in summer 2014, this term boasting the most saves, 77, of any goalkeeper in the Premier League’s top six.
But Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will attempt to squeeze every single penny out of Manchester United in their pursuit of the 28 year-old. Recent reports claim they’ll sell for nothing less than £35million, due to the four years remaining on Lloris’ contract.
That would make the Spurs No.1 the most expensive goalkeeper of all time. He’s very good – but he’s not that good. Potential alternatives Asmir Begovic and Petr Cech, allegedly available for £8million and £10million respectively, offer far better value for money.
NIGEL DE JONG
Let me say, for the safety of my own bones, I have absolutely no problem with Nigel de Jong. Ankle nipping and shin-shattering still has a small put significant place in English football, which happens to be the Dutch lawnmower’s exact expertise.
The 30 year-old boasts Premier League experience, winning the title with Manchester City in 2012, looked pretty handy under Louis van Gaal’s leadership at the 2014 World Cup and is set to leave AC Milan on a free transfer this summer. So the Netherlands international certainly strikes decent value for money.
But ahead of a campaign in which Manchester United are expected to launch an emphatic title bid, it feels like a bit of a sideways move. De Jong’s peak was undoubtedly three years ago and he’s since delved into mediocrity at AC Milan.
In comparison to the likes of Morgan Schneiderlin, Ilkay Gundogan, Geoffrey Kondogbia and William Carvalho – all of whom have been linked with the Red Devils – he’s a significantly inferior option.
Source: The Guardian
Raheem Sterling
Do I think Raheem Sterling could play for a better club than Liverpool? Judging on the fact he’s claimed the second-most goals, the second-most assists, the second-most successful dribbles per-match and the most created chances per-match of any Reds player this term, at just 20 years of age and for a Liverpool side set to finish fifth in the Premier League, yes.
But would I actually take a punt on him this summer amid rumours he plans to force a move away from Anfield? At Liverpool’s apparent valuation of £50million? Certainly not.
No doubt, the 2014 Golden Boy winner is a sensational talent, potentially the best of his home-grown generation. But placing the weight of such an almighty transfer fee on his young shoulders could completely debase the Liverpool prodigy’s career.
Not to mention the fact he’d be the first player to directly move between Anfield and Old Trafford since Phil Chisnal in1964 – applying even further pressure on the young winger-forward.
That rivalry hasn’t been crossed in over half a century – and there’s a good reason for that. Sterling will be forever hated by those on Merseyside and could quickly become a disliked figure in Manchester if he struggles for form.
EDINSON CAVANI
Edinson Cavani is unquestionably a supremely talented goalscorer, boasting returns of 53 goals in 92 appearances for PSG and a ridiculous 104 in 138 for former club Napoli.
But the rest of his game and his overall attitude, in my opinion, leaves a lot to be desired. Despite playing alongside one of the most formidable strikers in world football in Zlatan Ibrahimovic, he’s managed just three assists in 62 appearances throughout his Ligue 1 career.
I could get three assists playing next to Zlatan for two straight seasons, and I haven’t exercised since 2009.
On top of that, there’s the infamous internal ban for skipping PSG’s winter training camp, his touchline bust up with manager Laurent Blanc and the continuous attempts to hold the French champions to ransom by making transfer demands to the press – all of which suggest the 28 year-old isn’t much of a team player at all.
Recent speculation suggests he’s already agreed personal terms with Juventus, which is probably the best case scenario for United fans. Not only are they spared the blushes of their club paying a ridiculous fee for an overrated striker, but also the potential embarrassment of him joining a Premier League rival and scoring a stupid amount of goals.