It’s been a day of transfer activity for Manchester United after their defeat at Swansea appeared to trigger what has initially appeared to be a series of panic buys with Gareth Bale prominently mentioned yesterday, but the Old Trafford exit door has been used far more than the entrance.
Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal had already hinted that there would be no panic buys before the the close of the summer transfer window, his remarks clarifying that United had been working on their transfer targets for some time now.
There was a flurry of activity as the transfer window in Europe closed today.
David De Gea is rumoured to have been sold to Real Madrid for a fee of £29m with Keylor Navas going the other way to join United on a five year deal. The twist for United seems to have been the apparent late arrival of De Gea’s paper work at Madrid (in a format that could not be read) meaning that the Spanish international should remain a United player unless there is a late push behind the scenes to make sure the transfer happens.
With Victor Valdes’ move to Besiktas falling through at the last minute, the veteran ‘keeper could find himself competing with De Gea and Navas for a place in the United goal.
Best of luck to Anders Lindegaard, who has completed a move to West Brom. He played 29 times for #mufc. pic.twitter.com/wC6wAierZ7
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 31, 2015
United at least did get one goalkeeper to leave, with Anders Lindegaard departing Old Trafford for West Brom after chalking up a total of 29 appearances, and Navas’ arrival will mean the long awaited Sam Johnstone return to Preston North End on loan could happen.
Javier Hernandez has completed a permanent move to Bayer Leverkusen. We wish him all the best for the future. #mufc pic.twitter.com/uGUMobMLzW
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 31, 2015
United’s striking options appear to be going through a complete overhaul. Already struggling with the out-of-sorts Wayne Rooney, super-sub Javier Hernandez has gone to Bayer Leverkusen for a fee believed to be £7.3m on a 3 year deal. The Mexican striker, also known as Chicharito, scored 59 goals in 157 games for United and won two Premier League titles, having joined in 2010.
Good luck to @AdnanJanuzaj, who has joined Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund on a season-long loan deal. #mufc pic.twitter.com/h5SFMovaUD
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 31, 2015
Adnan Januzaj has joined Borussia Dortmund initially on a season-long loan. Januzaj had been tipped by Van Gaal as a possible striking option.
Another striking option, James Wilson, is set to decide between joining West Brom and Tottenham on loan as United’s front line is reshaped.
Replacing Hernandez, Januzaj and Wilson could be teenage striker Anthony Martial, 19, from Lyon. The young French frontman could be the most expensive teenager ever at £36m. Martial scored eight goals in Ligue 1 last season but he’s the kind of fast paced striker who Van Gaal values.
United could be left with a choice of Martial and Rooney for front line duty, alongside Marouane Fellaini as a physical option and Memphis Depay as an emergency pace choice despite doing some of his best work for United off the left flank.