If you believe all the media reports, Manchester United are ready to spend £215m this month on deals for Gareth Bale, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Felipe Anderson and Sadio Mane.
It has been a frustrating first-half of the season for United, but with unprecedented spending power, Louis van Gaal has the ability to inject much needed pace and style into his side. United are currently three points away from a Champions League place and missing out on Europe again next season is unthinkable to the United board.
Bale is the crown jewel of the four and he is reportedly ready to push for an exit from Real Madrid following the sacking of Rafa Benitez. I cannot see Madrid letting him go in January, but the summer is a real possibility for a world record deal that would make Bale the highest paid player in Premier League history,
Mane wants to leave Southampton, and while the Saints have said that they are not interested in the selling the winger, his recent falling out with Saints manager Ronald Koeman combined with a big money offer from United could persuade Southampton to sell the Senegal international.
Felipe Anderson has been on United’s radar since last summer and according to reports from Sky Sport Italia, Lazio want €60m for Felipe Anderson (£44.1m), but are prepared to negotiate. Considering that the midfielder has a reported £35m buyout clause (€47.5m), expect that be the final price. Considering that Lazio paid just €7.8 million for Anderson when they signed him from Santos in 2013, they stand to make a massive profit on the player.
Aubameyang’s future at Dortmund looks uncertain after he failed to report to the first day of training after the winter break yesterday.
United, Arsenal and Liverpool have all long been linked with the striker who has a price tag of around £50m. Top strikers are at a premium and signing Aubameyang, who has been brilliant this season for Dortmund, might be the most difficult deal of the four to pull off.
But assume for a moment that United do land all four in January. What will their line-up look like? One variation is this. A line-up with pace and attacking ability that will frighten almost any defense.
And you would have the likes of Mane, Rooney, Mata and Herrera on the bench. What do you think?
