Three January transfer targets for Manchester United
It has been a disappointing start to the 2018/19 campaign for Manchester United and the Red Devils may need to invest heavily in the January transfer window in order to keep pace in the top four battle.
Whether Jose Mourinho is still at the helm or not, United will want to do everything in their power to secure Champions League football at Old Trafford next season. If that means going out and buying a player in January, so be it.
United moved swiftly to hijack Manchester City’s bid for Alexis Sanchez in the 2018 January transfer window and the Red Devils may go big again. Here are three players who could move to Old Trafford in the coming months…
Raphael Varane
Like United, Real Madrid have failed to inspire confidence in recent months and the Red Devils could tempt Varane away from the Santiago Bernabeu with a lucrative wage offer. Varane was a pivotal figure for France in their 2018 World Cup triumph as well as playing every minute of Real Madrid’s successful Champions League campaign last season.
Arguably the most talented central defender in world football, United will have to offer a huge sum of money to convince Real to sell. However, every player has his price and he would certainly help the Red Devils in the second half of the campaign. 3/1 in Premier League betting for a top-four finish, United need to make a statement in January.
Mauro Icardi
With six goals and two assists in eight Serie A outings so far this campaign, Italian football fans are running out of superlatives to describe Icardi. The Inter Milan forward is one of the most gifted youngsters on the planet and he will be a man in demand in the January transfer window.
United are in desperate need of help in the final third; Romelu Lukaku has struggled for goals in recent weeks while Jose Mourinho still has doubts over whether Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial are good enough to lead the line. Icardi ticks all the right boxes to shine in the Premier League and United should make him their top target. He could be the difference between finishing 4th and 5th.
Gareth Bale
Recently voted Real Madrid’s worst player of the season by their own fans, Bale could push for a move back to the Premier League at the first time of asking. If nothing else, the former Tottenham Hotspur star would give United a real boost in the final third – Bale has also proven himself in England and that will appeal to the Red Devils.
The Welshman has been directly involved in five goals in nine La Liga matches in 2018/19 and many believe that he is being used as a scapegoat for Real’s lack of transfer activity this summer. Failing to sign a competent replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo was a huge error in judgement and Bale may choose to jump ship now before Real’s situation gets worse.