Manchester United Transfer News: 4 Leading Targets Discussed In Latest Rumors

Borussia Dortmund star and Manchester United target Marco Reus has remained coy over his future and whether he has signed a new contract with the Bundesliga side. The Germany international has been widely linked with a move to Old Trafford in recent months. Despite the sacking of David Moyes last week, United are thought to be pressing ahead with their targets established under the previous manager’s reign.

Reus has two years remaining on his contract, and has a release clause of €35 million (£28.8m), but it is only active in the 2015 summer transfer window. Recent reports have suggested that Reus has been offered a new deal by last season’s Champions League finalists, but the former Borussia Monchengladbach man declined to reveal anything about his situation.

“I'm not saying anything about my contract," he told German publication Bild. "But I do have the time to emphasize how good I feel at Dortmund.”

Having lost Mario Gotze and Shinji Kagawa in the past two summers and already having seen star striker Robert Lewandowski sign a contract with Bayern Munich for next season, Dortmund will be loathed to lose another of their key performers.

But United’s determination to land Reus may increase if the latest speculation about Adam Lallana proves accurate. The Southampton attacking midfielder’s fine season has recently been reinforced by being named in the PFA Team of the Year. At the end of a season in which he has also been capped by England and is expected to play a prominent role at the World Cup, there is little surprise that many of the Premier League’s top clubs are thought to be circling the 25-year-old.

According to the Daily Mail, Lallana is set to scupper interest from Manchester United by signing for fellow-suitors Liverpool. The Premier League leaders are expected to start the bidding for the player at £15 million.

It has been reported that United were looking to do a double-deal involving Lallana and his teammate Luke Shaw, although the left-back has always appeared the Premier League champions’ prime target. With doubts about the future of Patrice Evra, whose contract is up in the summer, and Alex Buttner expected to depart, a new left-back is a priority for the club’s summer transfer business.

Like Lallana, Shaw was named in the PFA Team of the Year after a superb campaign. The 18-year-old, who made his England debut in March, could be heading to the World Cup and is being pursued by Chelsea as well as United. It is United, though, who are believed to be in prime position to secure Shaw’s signing, with the player said to have doubts about his immediate first-team opportunities at Stamford Bridge. Publicly, though, Shaw continues to play down the speculation.

“It’s a good thing to be linked with them, but I don’t concentrate on that, I’ve got football to focus on,” he said, according to Metro. “Yeah of course [I’d be happy to stay at Southampton], I’ve said it a number of times, it’s a great club and I’m still young and have a lot to learn.”

If Manchester United do fail to land Lallana, it may be the first example of the lack of Champions League qualification proving costly in the transfer market. The Daily Mirror does not believe that will be an issue with another of the club’s leading targets, Edinson Cavani, however.

Despite Cavani only joining Paris Saint-Germain from Napoli last summer for a massive £57 million, it is thought that United are exploring the chances of tempting the Uruguay international to Old Trafford. The 27-year-old striker could potentially be open to a move having voiced his frustration at having to play out wide due to the presence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Mirror, who claim that United are preparing a £60 million bid, report that Cavani has told friends that he is keen to move to Old Trafford.

“Edinson believes he will be a perfect fit in England,” an unnamed source said, according to the tabloid. “He knows that United, Manchester City and Chelsea are all interested and would be happy to talk to any of them. But he also knows United seem the most keen and that is a factor.”

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