Manchester United FC: Top 11 Realistic Summer Transfers

James WillisAnalyst IApril 18, 2011

Manchester United FC: Top 11 Realistic Summer Transfers

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    MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 11:  Sir Alex Ferguson the manager of Manchester United faces the media during a press conference ahead of their UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg match against Chelsea at the Old Trafford on April 11, 2011 in Manc
    Alex Livesey/Getty Images

    Despite having this season's EPL crown all but wrapped up, any Manchester United fan would tell you that there are a number of improvements that have to be made to the club this summer.

    With Edwin van der Sar retiring this summer, the biggest need will be for a replacement goalkeeper. With that in mind, there are also a number of other positions that Sir Alex Ferguson will be looking to strengthen.

    The Manchester United midfield is perhaps also weaker than Ferguson would like, with Giggs and Scholes both getting older and a number of the younger players, like Gabriel Obertan, failing to meet expectations.

    Here is a list of 11 likely transfers for Manchester United this summer.

David De Gea

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    MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 19: David De Gea of Atletico Madrid reacts during the La Liga match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid at Vicente Calderon Stadium on March 19, 2011 in Madrid, Spain.  (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
    Denis Doyle/Getty Images

    Age: 20

    Current Club: Atletico Madrid

    Nationality: Spanish

    Position: Goalkeeper

    The young goalkeeper has been much discussed recently and is largely seen as the eventual successor to Iker Casillas as the Spanish number one.

    With so much upside, Manchester United could potentially be signing a goalkeeper that could serve them well for the next 15 or so years, based on past records.

    De Gea would be a fantastic signing for any team, but Manchester United are the favourites to land the youngster.

Jack Rodwell

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    LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 20:  Jack Rodwell of Everton runs in to score his team's third goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Manchester United at Goodison Park on February 20, 2010 in Liverpool, England.  (Photo by Clive
    Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

    Age: 20

    Current Club: Everton

    Nationality: English

    Position: Midfielder

    Already well known by football fans around England, Jack Rodwell has been touted as one of the future stars of the England team for a long time.

    Everton are very unlikely to sell Rodwell for cheap, so Manchester United will need to be prepared to fork out a large amount to secure the signing of the midfielder.

    He may not jump straight into the first XI of the United set up, but with Ferguson's record of developing young talent, United wouldn't be too bad of a place to move.

Wesley Sneijder

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    BRESCIA, ITALY - MARCH 11: Wesley Sneijder of Inter looks on during the Serie A match between Brescia Calcio and FC Internazionale Milano at Mario Rigamonti Stadium on March 11, 2011 in Brescia, Italy.  (Photo by Dino Panato/Getty Images)
    Dino Panato/Getty Images

    Age: 26

    Current Club: Inter Milan

    Nationality: Dutch

    Position: Attacking Midfielder

    With Paul Scholes not getting any younger, Ferguson is rumoured to be looking at Sneijder as a replacement for the United and England legend.

    Some speculation has even suggested that Sneijder would not only be a replacement for Scholes, but also the key piece in a complete revamp of the club's midfield.

    Having dealt with contract issues at Inter Milan, Ferguson has been alerted to Sneijder's status and while he would not be cheap, he would certainly make a good signing.

Ashley Young

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    BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - APRIL 10:  Ashley Young of Aston Villa is thoughtful during the Barclays Premier League match between Aston Villa and Newcastle United at Villa Park on April 10, 2011 Birmingham, England.  (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
    Michael Regan/Getty Images

    Age: 25

    Current Club: Aston Villa

    Nationality: English

    Position: Winger / Second Striker

    Young showed so much potential in his early years at Aston Villa after signing from Watford, but then dropped off a bit and seemed to disappear from the public eye.

    However, he has bounced back as of late, and his recent form has helped him win more England caps. He has even scored for the national team that he is now a key part of.

    Aston Villa will want to keep hold of him to link him up with Darren Bent, but the lure of Champions League football could be too much to resist for Ashley Young.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

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    SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 29: Alex Chamberlain of Southampton in action during the FA Cup sponsored by E.ON 4th Round match between Southampton and Manchester United at St Mary's Stadium on January 29, 2011 in Southampton, England.  (Photo by Clive R
    Clive Rose/Getty Images

    Age: 17

    Current Club: Southampton

    Nationality: English

    Position: Winger

    It was rumoured that both Arsenal and Manchester United have been bidding for Oxlade-Chamberlain in the January transfer window, but nothing ever came to fruition and the teen remained with Southampton.

    This summer, however, Ferguson may have had more of a chance to follow the progress of the youngster and could well make a move for him.

    Although he would not be a part of the United set up straight away, the teenager would be in a very safe place to continue his development and it could propel him to being a key player for England in future years.

Jose 'Pepe' Reina

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    MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 09:  Pepe Reina of Liverpool gestures during the FA Cup sponsored by E.ON 3rd round match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford on January 9, 2011 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
    Alex Livesey/Getty Images

    Age: 28

    Current Club: Liverpool

    Nationality: Spanish

    Position: Goalkeeper

    The Liverpool goalkeeper has had numerous reports linking him with Manchester United, and Reina has not bothered to denounce those rumours either.

    The Spanish goalkeeper has admitted that if a move away from Liverpool seemed like the best move for him, then he would definitely consider it.

    While a move from Liverpool to Manchester United would not make him the most popular footballer, it would almost certainly prove as a great place to finish his career.

Gareth Bale

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    LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 13:  Gareth Bale of Spurs shows his dejection during the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid at White Hart Lane on April 13, 2011 in London, England.  (Photo by Jasper Juin
    Jasper Juinen/Getty Images

    Age: 21

    Current Club: Tottenham Hotspur

    Nationality: Welsh

    Position: Left Winger / Left Back

    Despite Bale ruling out a move to Manchester United recently, the Red Devils are unlikely to let that stop them from attempting to sign him.

    After winning the PFA Player of the Year award, Gareth Bale is seen by many as a natural successor to Ryan Giggs at Wales and potentially at Manchester United as well.

    Harry Redknapp will likely have a tough time this summer trying to keep hold of all his key players, and Gareth Bale is no different with much speculation surrounding his future this past season.

Enzo Zidane

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    Age: 16

    Current Club: Real Madrid

    Nationality: Italian (Also holds Spanish citizenship)

    Position: Midfielder

    Enzo Zidane is the son of French legend Zinedine Zidane, and while that does not automatically make him a great player, the fact that he is a key part in Real Madrid's youth squads does.

    The youngster has only recently hit his 16th birthday, and with Zinedine still at the club as an advisor, it would seem sensible for the youngster to remain at the Bernabeu.

    However, with clubs signing younger players each year, Enzo could be a part of this trend and join the United youth team this summer.

Hugo Lloris

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    PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 29:  Goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris of France looks on during the International friendly match between France and Croatia at Stade de France on March 29, 2011 in Paris, France.  (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
    Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

    Age: 24

    Current Club: Olympique Lyonnais

    Nationality: French

    Position: Goalkeeper

    Another goalkeeper that Ferguson may potentially sign, Lloris has been a solid rock for both Lyon and France in recent seasons, and despite showing poor form in the World Cup last year, he still has a lot of potential to fulfil.

    Lloris has already proven himself at the top level of European football, which may also be an added bonus  that not all goalkeepers have.

Douglas Costa

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    KHARKIV, UKRAINE - SEPTEMBER 25:  of Metalist Kharkiv of Shakhtar Donetsk in action during the Russian Premier League match between Metalist Kharkiv and Shakhtar Donetsk at the Metalist Stadium  on September 25, 2010 in Kharkiv, Ukraine.   (Photo by EuroF
    EuroFootball/Getty Images

    Age: 20

    Current Club: Shakhtar Donetsk

    Nationality: Brazilian

    Position: Attacking Midfielder

    Douglas Costa jumped into the public's attention this year after playing a key role in Shakhtar Donetsk's run to the Champions League Quarter Finals, and as a result Costa could be the latest Brazilian addition to the Manchester United midfield.

    The young Brazilian would follow in the footsteps of Anderson, Fabio Da Silva and Rafael Da Silva in joining the Manchester United ranks and could be a very underrated signing.

    He has already had experience in the Champions League this season with Shakhtar Donetsk and at such a young age, he's an attractive prospect.

Manuel Neuer

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    MILAN, ITALY - APRIL 05:  Goalkeeoer Manuel Neuer of Schalke 04 issues instructions during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match between FC Internazionale Milano and Schalke 04 at San Siro Stadium on April 5, 2011 in Milan, Italy.  (Photo by Valer
    Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

    Age: 25

    Current Club: Schalke 04

    Nationality: German

    Position: Goalkeeper

    Neuer is perhaps best known in England as the goalkeeper for Germany that partook in Frank Lampard's fateful "goal that never was" in the 2010 World Cup.

    Neuer has experience at the top level of European football, reaching the Champions League Semi Finals with Schalke 04 as well as having been Germany's first-choice keeper since the World Cup.

    Manchester United will have their eyes on a number of different goalkeepers as a replacement for Edwin van der Sar, and while David De Gea may be the favourite to sign with the Old Trafford club, Manuel Neuer is definitely one of the contenders as well.

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