Transfer-hungry Manchester United fans, buckle in…
Your team has jetted off on another money-spinning preseason tour of the United States but, crucially, Ed Woodward has not. And each and every one of you know what this means.
That’s right. As Jose Mourinho puts his players through their paces in the Los Angeles sunshine, Ed sits alone in his office, armed with nothing but a chequebook, an expensive fountain pen and a telephone. It’s finally time to get some more new signings through the door.
According to Miguel Delaney in The Independent, Bayern Munich duo Thiago Alcantara (yes, him again) and Robert Lewandowski are in United’s sights.
The German champions are said to be open to selling both players, with United considering deals for them.
Thiago nearly joined United from Barcelona in 2013, only for Pep Guardiola – then Bayern manager – to intervene and ask the player to move to Bavaria instead. A return to Barca could scupper any United plans to sign him this summer, with the report adding that he is waiting to see if his former club make an offer for him.
Jose Mourinho is said to be an admirer of Lewandowski but the report also states that other clubs are likely to be interested. One of those will almost certainly be Real Madrid, who may all of a sudden be a bit light of goals up top.
Interestingly, the report doesn’t rule out a United move for Gareth Bale, although makes clear that the final decision will rest on whether newly appointed Real manager Julen Lopetegui will offer him guarantees over a regular starting berth.
Deals for Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld and Juventus full-back Alex Sandro are also possible, despite United refusing to meet the asking prices for both players so far.
All in all, it looks like it will be a busy end to the transfer window for Mr Woodward.
