Manchester United Transfer Rumours: Hazard, Pique, Bale, Kagawa, Muniain, Sigurdsson Involved In Latest Speculation As United Get Set For Summer Spending Spree
Regardless of the result of the crucial Manchester derby on Monday night, Sir Alex Ferguson seems determined to add to his squad for next season.
One of the players linked most prominently with a move to Old Trafford is young Belgian hotshot Eden Hazard. The Lille attacking midfielder has been watched and spoken of highly by Ferguson, but a number of clubs are known to be interested in the 21-year-old.
While his precise destination remains uncertain, what does seem clear is that Hazard will be plying his trade in the Premier League next season.
I want to finish the season with Lille and then go to England, Hazard said, according to the Daily Mail.
This is a transfer saga that is likely to run for at least a few more weeks yet.
If Ferguson fails to land Hazard then it seems that he is keeping his options open by pursuing an interest in several other offensive midfielders.
One of those is Japanese international Shinji Kagawa. The 23-year-old has one year remaining on his contract at Borussia Dortmund and has turned down the club's latest offer of an extension, according to the Daily Mail.
And Dortmund director of sport, Michael Zorc has said that Kagawa is eyeing a move to the Premier League.
I spoke to Shinji and his advisor last week and to date he is not willing to extend his contract, Zorc said, according to the Daily Mail.
We have a Plan A and B and we will follow one of them. We won't gamble, but he has a specific career plan and he plans to play in England. We have to accept that, even if we don't find it good.
Reportedly Dortmund could accept as little as £5 million ($8m) for the man who has contributed 13 goals and seven assists as Dortmund have retained their Bundesliga title this season.
Another alternative to add creativity to the United lineup appears to be Gylfi Sigurdsson. The 22-year-old has excelled since joining Swansea on-loan from Hoffenheim in January and the Daily Mail has claimed that he was watched by Ferguson and his coaches Mike Phelan and Rene Meulensteen on Saturday,
Hoffenheim reportedly want £10 million for the former-Reading attacking midfielder. And Sigurdssson, who has scored seven goals in 15 starts with Swansea has said he wants a permanent move to England's top flight.
I've told them what I want to do next season and that's to play in the Premier League, he said, according to the Daily Mirror. Hopefully things can get sorted in the summer.
In other speculation, the Manchester Evening News has claimed that United will spend in excess of £50 million this summer as Ferguson looks to overhaul his squad.
The story claims that Feguson is likely to pursue an interest in Iker Muniain, who so impressed in Athletic Bilbao's victories over United in the Europa League.
The more surprising aspect of the story is the talk of United potentially seeking to tempt Gerard Pique back to Old Trafford. Even after the departure of Pep Guardiola this deal seems unlikely, though.
Tottenham's Gareth Bale is another player that the MEN claims United may look to go after as a statement signing.
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