Four marquee players.
There are four “fantasy” signings Manchester United would like to make. Or rather, Ed Woodward would like to make. The United executive vice-chairman is said to have a list of marquee names he hopes to bring to Old Trafford – including Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo has been linked with a move back to his old club in recent days.
The Real Madrid forward is said to be unhappy in Spain, amid accusations by Spanish prosecutors that he “defrauded the authorities of millions of euros in tax.”
The 32-year-old, if he were to leave the Spanish and European champions, would command a transfer fee few other than United could afford. And there’s no doubt he’d be welcomed back at the club.
If he does decide to leave Spain, United will be top of the queue to sign him. According to James Robson of the Manchester Evening News:
“Ronaldo is in a bracket of fantasy signings Woodward dreams of delivering to investors on the New York Stock Exchange that also includes Gareth Bale, Neymar and Thomas Muller.”
Gareth Bale is another player who has been repeatedly linked with United in the past. The Madrid forward reportedly turned the club down in 2013, when he moved to Spain for a world record fee.
Through a combination of injuries and Isco’s excellent form, Bale lost starting place in the team towards the end of the season. Of the players on the list, he is probably the most likely to one day play for United.
Back in February, Jan-Christian Dreeson, a Bayern board of management member, claimed United made a €100m bid for Muller and it was rejected.
While United have been linked with Neymar in the past. However, it’s difficult to imagine the Brazilian will leave Barcelona anytime soon.
Woodward’s record in the transfer market has been mixed. United spent the 2013 transfer window chasing Ronaldo, Bale, Toni Kroos and Thiago Alcantara, but ended up with Marouane Fellaini.
In the current transfer window, the club have so far signed Victor Lindelöf, the Swedish central defender, from Benfica for £30.7m
