The transfer season is nothing if not an opportunity to cross your fingers and hope that your favourite star lands up at your favourite club. With that in mind, let’s have a look at some of the less-likelier prospects to end up at Manchester United this summer.
Raul Gonzalez
Current Club: Schalke 04
Valuation: Loan, maybe?
Position: Forward
Sir Alex, after the Champions League semi-final spoke of how he nearly signed Raul ahead of Schalke. He would see no reason as to not give Raul a chance to play at the legendary Old Trafford stadium as one of it’s own as Raul still demonstrates the finishing ability of yore with 19 goals this season and the spirit of a teenager. For those of you who doubt, remember Henrik Larsson’s spell a couple of years ago?
Ricardo Kaka
Current Club: Real Madrid
Valuation: £50m
Position: Central Midfield
It would be a move that would suit both parties as United would get a star midfield wizard and Kaka would find himself first on the team sheet for the games. But then again, Kaka would find himself in the first eleven at almost any club, except apparently at Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid. And with Sahin coming in, Kaka certainly seems headed out with Chelsea being a very likely destination. United fans will be praying otherwise though.
Alexis Sanchez
Current Club: Udinese
Valuation: £25m
Position: Wide Midfielder
A player who had, at the beginning of the season expressed a desire to play for one of the ‘big’ clubs will now be held onto by his club to the best of their ability as they look all set to qualify for the Champions League. Is a livewire player, can inject pace and brings a full bag of tricks to the game. He will know that if anyone can convert him into the next Cristiano Ronaldo, it will be Sir Alex Ferguson.
Gareth Bale
Current Club: Tottenham Hotspur
Valuation: £40m
Position: Wide Midfield/Fullback
The PFA player of the year has certainly got the lungs and the pace to set Old Trafford alight but will most likely remain at Tottenham as Harry Redknapp tries to get back into the Champions League and the top four next seasons. In the unlikely event that he decides to move, Barcelona will be favourite suitors. But, with Alex Ferguson’s knack for developing and conditioning young talents, one can never give up hope.
Mario Gotze
Current Club: Borussia Dortmund
Valuation: £15m
Position: Central Midfield
Another in a long list of central midfielders, 18 year old Gotze has had a stunning season, first making himself a regular on the team sheet and then following it up with consistent performances good enough to get all the big clubs monitoring him. Will definitely improve on his tally of 6 goals and 11 assists in the seasons to come and where better to do it than at Manchester United?
Edinson Cavani
Current Club: Napoli
Valuation: £40m
Position: Forward
Has had a dream of a season so far, scoring 33 goals in all competitions and firing Napoli to a 3rd place finish in the Serie A. Having secured Champions League qualification, will find no reason to leave Napoli. And at the price he is valued at, one can only pray that Sir Alex finds a reason.
Marek Hamsik
Current Club: Napoli
Valuation: £20m
Position: Central Midfield
A midfielder with a proven goal scoring record and with grit and ability to match, Marek Hamsik has certainly been as important to Napoli as Cavani. Could land up at Manchester United depending on how the other deals fall through for the Old Trafford unit.
Shinji Kagawa
Current Club: Borussia Dortmund
Valuation: £15m
Position: Central/Wide Midfield
He has scored 8 goals in 18 appearances in the Bundesliga which speaks for itself. However, having just moved to Dortmund and having settled in well seems very unlikely to be heading for an exit. But a player of his class and work rate is always ‘Welcome to Manchester’, isn’t he?
What do you think? Is there someone missing? Leave your comments below!
Tags: Alexis Sanchez, Edinson Cavani, Gareth Bale, Manchester United, Marek Hamsik, Mario Gotze, Raul Gonzalez, Ricardo Kaka, Shinji Kagawa