Manchester United transfer news and rumours for summer 2014

Can't wait for the cloud of transfer negativity to lift around United.
Roll on Mid-July so we can get going.
 
I think we'll sign Strootman at some point, probably in January. LvG clearly rates him very highly and he is the type of box to box player that we need. And I think Roma would sell for 30m. But it would be a huge gamble and mistake not to sign a new midfielder during the summer.
 
Why are those the only two possibilities of what's happening? What exactly would it look like if nothing was happening then?

I don't get this notion of celebrating the silence and implying it is some sort of evidence of activity. 'Great, I'm happy there is no news, that means nobody knows anything'. The media are supposed to report what is happening. If various media did not tell you that the Titanic had sunk, it's probably because it hadn't sunk!

I appreciate that sometimes they may be kept in the dark about things, all I'm saying is that unless you have your own source that has confirmed activity to you, then that is in no way a positive sign. I'm guessing the papers are not reporting we are about to sign Vidal because we are not about to sign Vidal. I would rather they were saying we were.
Also, what some people seem to forget is that there's more than just people at our club involved in any transfer. We can keep as tight lipped as we want but we have no control over players' agents, their families and friends and employees etc. of the selling club. If anything was really in the pipeline I'd expect something to leak out from somewhere.

At any rate, the first milestone is 1st July when the window opens (apart from domestic transfers that can be completed at any time after last season ended). If any deals are just awaiting signature we'll know a few days after that.
 
Also, what some people seem to forget is that there's more than just people at our club involved in any transfer. We can keep as tight lipped as we want but we have no control over players' agents, their families and friends and employees etc. of the selling club. If anything was really in the pipeline I'd expect something to leak out from somewhere.

At any rate, the first milestone is 1st July when the window opens (apart from domestic transfers that can be completed at any time after last season ended). If any deals are just awaiting signature we'll know a few days after that.

This summer of all summers, we are the biggest story in the mercado. I have strong doubts that any important players have an agreement to join Manchester United already but nobody knows.

Perhaps we've agreed a deal for some left-back from Israel, but I very much doubt a high-profile world star has an agreement with the biggest show in town this summer under the radar.

Hopefully I am wrong.
 
When's it alright to start panicking?

If last summer is any guide, then at least not until the day after the transfer window closes. Until then it's all "why don't you just wait until the end of the window to see what business we've done?", "how do you know what's going on behind the scenes at United?", and finally "this squad won the league by 11 points!" - actually, forget that last one :(
 
If last summer is any guide, then at least not until the day after the transfer window closes. Until then it's all "why don't you just wait until the end of the window to see what business we've done?", "how do you know what's going on behind the scenes at United?", and finally "this squad won the league by 11 points!" - actually, forget that last one :(
I was positive while Moyes was on holiday he carried out instructions to Woodward and was expecting signings to be announced once he took over boy was I wrong.
 
If last summer is any guide, then at least not until the day after the transfer window closes. Until then it's all "why don't you just wait until the end of the window to see what business we've done?", "how do you know what's going on behind the scenes at United?", and finally "this squad won the league by 11 points!" - actually, forget that last one :(

June 1: "It's still only June."
July 1: "It's still only July."
August 1: "We still have a month."
September 1: "Holy crap."
 
Van Gaal is at the world cup, why would he be signing players? He hasn't even spent any time with the squad yet? Did we not all know that he was going to be getting late into the job and also that world cup years are a nightmare for signing players early? ye we did know
 
Van Gaal is at the world cup, why would he be signing players? He hasn't even spent any time with the squad yet? Did we not all know that he was going to be getting late into the job and also that world cup years are a nightmare for signing players early? ye we did know

by now Van Gaal must know exactly our weaknesses and strengths. A man of football like him, trust me, have done his homework early on after the first sign of interest from us.

now, are the club personnel in charge of signing new players, good enough to bring his targets... different shit. We'll see.
 
by now Van Gaal must know exactly our weaknesses and strengths. A man of football like him, trust me, have done his homework early on after the first sign of interest from us.

now, are the club personnel in charge of signing new players, good enough to bring his targets... different shit. We'll see.
so if the players themselves are also at the world cup, would you not expect that to slow it down too? like whatever way people want to rationalize it and whatever assumptions people want to make, 2 months ago everyone said we were 'definitely' going to get signings wrapped up before the world cup - but it is harder than people think for all the reasons mentioned. Probably Van Gaal just wants to leave it until after so he can do his current job
 
I am all prepared for "I am happy with my squad" line. I think we will probably sign 2 or three young players. As we all know rebuilding of a squad can't be done in one season - buying few expensive top players is not always the answer. If the aim is to finish top 4, maybe a couple off young signings which VG thinks will improve our squad is the way forward. No one saw Valencia's contract coming - we still have top attacking unit, hopefully with one or two signings in midfield and defence and VG factor will push us towards top 4. We can play our strongest 11 in league games and youth/experience in FA/league Cups, I guess no Champions league will also help. Maybe once VG assess his squad then in next few transfer windows we will make few big signings.
 
so if the players themselves are also at the world cup, would you not expect that to slow it down too? like whatever way people want to rationalize it and whatever assumptions people want to make, 2 months ago everyone said we were 'definitely' going to get signings wrapped up before the world cup - but it is harder than people think for all the reasons mentioned. Probably Van Gaal just wants to leave it until after so he can do his current job
There was a post on here somewhere about LvG not allowing the Dutch players to negotiate moves during the WC. Hodgson also said this. Seeing as LvG has this rule for his Dutch players I'd have to think he doesn't expect us to sign anyone during the WC unless our target isn't at the WC.
 
But that's my whole point from the beginning onwards: World class players who have options to chose from - not comparably unproven talent. The competition among clubs for those world class players have become fiercer.

Though CL is certainly more attractive, City had at least some EL football to offer:
  • Yaya Touré => joined in July 2010 => Europa League
  • Robinho => joined in September 2008 => UEFA Cup
  • David Silva => Europa League
Carlos Teves in July 2009 is the only one from your list who came with no European football whatsoever, and I don't know what other options he had.

The point is that they were pretty well known players who surprised a lot of people (pundits and fans alike) by buying into the City project at that time. Hence there is no reason we can't attract players of similar quality if we decide to loosen our pursestrings. Claiming that we couldn't get good players due to not being in the CL would be a lie.
 
But that's my whole point from the beginning onwards: World class players who have options to chose from - not comparably unproven talent. The competition among clubs for those world class players have become fiercer.

Though CL is certainly more attractive, City had at least some EL football to offer:
  • Yaya Touré => joined in July 2010 => Europa League
  • Robinho => joined in September 2008 => UEFA Cup
  • David Silva => Europa League
Carlos Teves in July 2009 is the only one from your list who came with no European football whatsoever, and I don't know what other options he had.
Your idea that Silva and Toure joined City even in a small regard because of Europa League is as big, big stretch. Especially if you actually consider that all these people were playing in Champ League clubs. All of them. Even Silva at Valencia.
 
A manager of Van Gaals pedigree won't need much time to assess our squad it has clear weakness which he'll he aiming to improve whether the deals get done is another question.

Moyes went with the nice guy approach and gave everyone a fresh start it was a mistake which we can't risk happening again. The squad needs some fresh blood even if it's only three players brought in as long as they go straight into the starting 11
 
There was a post on here somewhere about LvG not allowing the Dutch players to negotiate moves during the WC. Hodgson also said this. Seeing as LvG has this rule for his Dutch players I'd have to think he doesn't expect us to sign anyone during the WC unless our target isn't at the WC.
You don't negotiate with players, you negotiate with their agent. The agent negotiates the best deal they can then puts it to the player. The only involvement the player has could literally be a 30 second phone call from the agent outlining the main points of the deal and asking for a yes or no.
 
A manager of Van Gaals pedigree won't need much time to assess our squad it has clear weakness which he'll he aiming to improve whether the deals get done is another question.

Moyes went with the nice guy approach and gave everyone a fresh start it was a mistake which we can't risk happening again. The squad needs some fresh blood even if it's only three players brought in as long as they go straight into the starting 11

Agree fully
 
I see Nigel De Jong linked with us for £6m. I think he's exactly what we need with a great price tag to boot considering he's 29 years old.
 
A manager of Van Gaals pedigree won't need much time to assess our squad it has clear weakness which he'll he aiming to improve whether the deals get done is another question.

Moyes went with the nice guy approach and gave everyone a fresh start it was a mistake which we can't risk happening again. The squad needs some fresh blood even if it's only three players brought in as long as they go straight into the starting 11
He's already assessed the squad. First thing he said before he joined up with the Netherlands squad was that he's given us a list of people he wants in and out.
 
He's already assessed the squad. First thing he said before he joined up with the Netherlands squad was that he's given us a list of people he wants in and out.

Can you dig out that quote?
 
I'd like to see the quote, too, because the papers are just full of lies and I don't believe anything I read anymore.
In fact, unless I see a video of him saying it, I still won't believe it.
 
Can you dig out that quote?
For a man that didn't talk a lot about us it was really difficult to find these quotes.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...firmed-as-Manchester-Uniteds-new-manager.html

The aim is to bring them back to the No 1 position as soon as possible, because that’s where they were under Sir Alex Ferguson,” Van Gaal told Dutch television on Monday night.

United is the biggest club in the world. Marketing-wise, but also if you look at their budget. They have to finish high.”

“We don’t talk about money,” Van Gaal said. “We talk about the players I want. We’ll see if we can get them. We also talked about who can go.”

This was on the day he was announced as manager.
 
I have no faith in Woodward since he said you do not need to win trophies to sell shirts. Still nothing happened to change my view on him.
I agree, he's only interested in making us money rather than spending it. We will make a couple of signings but them being as big as expected? Not a chance. I still fully expect us to line up on September 1st with Carrick and Cleverley in midfield and Evra at LB
 
I agree, he's only interested in making us money rather than spending it. We will make a couple of signings but them being as big as expected? Not a chance. I still fully expect us to line up on September 1st with Carrick and Cleverley in midfield and Evra at LB

Yep and Cavani upfront :lol:
 
When Vaan Gaal says he is more than happy with the current squad.

That would fill me with confidence, personally.

Much better than that ginger gollum twat telling everyone that will listen that he has a shite squad.
 
I have no faith in Woodward since he said you do not need to win trophies to sell shirts. Still nothing happened to change my view on him.
He doesn't have the right balance of business and football. He's outstanding when it comes to business and securing sponsorships, United probably wouldn't be worth as much without his input towards the business side. However, when it comes to the football side of things his knowledge is limited which hasn't helped us at all in the past year or so. I'm hoping he proves me wrong on the football side and buys some amazing players this summer that fit perfectly into our team/squad but I just can't see it happening.
 
Not sure I'm liking the De Jong link

Really dirty and nasty player and is not that good a player in my opinion. We are going to get linked to all of the Dutch team at some point or other though so not sure how much to see in it. Already we have been linked with Robben, Sneijder, Depay, Clasie, Blind, Martins Indi, de Vrij.