Manchester United Transfer News: Sneijder, Baines, Ribeiro And Matic Linked In Latest Speculation

Manchester United’s defeat to Everton at Old Trafford to see the champions fall 12 points off the Premier League pace has led to further speculation about how David Moyes plans to improve his squad. After his taking over from Sir Alex Ferguson was bizarrely delayed by him seeing out his Everton contract, Moyes was hampered in recruiting players over the summer while he also wanted more time to properly assess the players already at his disposal.

He is unlikely to be impressed by what he has seen. The Daily Mirror believes that Moyes will look to offload Anderson and Ashley Young in January. It remains to be seen whether that will be possible, but the United boss will surely be determined to add to his squad, especially in midfield.

The agent of Cruzeiro midfielder Everton Ribeiro has been vocal in recent weeks in touting Manchester United’s purported interest in his client, but his club have now responded by saying that they have received no approach.

“We have not received any offer for him so far and I we are not aware of any interest from any club,” Cruzeiro’s director of football, Alexandre Mattos, told Globo Esporte, according to Sky Sports.

"Everton Ribeiro will only leave the club if Cruzeiro want."

Those comments have been quickly followed by a response from the 24-year-old’s agent claiming that he is the man dealing with United’s interest.

"Cruzeiro have not received anything because I am handling the situation directly with Man United," Robson Ferreira said.

"Everton Ribeiro has just been named the best player in Brazilian Football. Man United are interested in Everton Ribeiro. David Moyes is impressed and I personally met a Man United official and I was impressed. Man United consider him a complete midfielder."

While Ribeiro has impressed in helping Cruzeiro to the title in Brazil, Ferreira’s words should be taken with a certain degree of skepticism and it may well be that he is simply talking up his client to generate interest elsewhere.

There also continues to be speculation that Manchester United are keen to bring former Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic back to the Premier League. The Serbian has impressed since joining Benfica in 2011 and was linked with several clubs in England this summer. He said then that he wanted to spend at least one more season with the Lisbon giants, but the Daily Mirror believes that Benfica will consider offers of around £20 million in January. It is also suggested that Borussia Dortmund have joined United in the hunt for the 25-year-old.

One piece of speculation that refuses to die has resurfaced in the Daily Express this week, with the tabloid making the claim that Wesley Sneijder is once more on United’s radar. The Dutchman, now at Galatasaray, was close to joining from Internazionale in 2011.

The Express believes Moyes shares Ferguson’s admiration of the player and will offer both Nani and Antonio Valencia in order to try and secure his services in January. Such a scenario is highly unlikely.

Finally, the Mirror claims that Moyes is “confident” of finally sealing a deal to bring his former left-back, Leighton Baines, to Old Trafford in January. United failed with several bids for the Everton stalwart in the summer.

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