EDINSON CAVANI and Nicolas Otamendi are the next
targets as Manchester United look to continue another whirlwind summer
of transfer activity
After
splashing £150m last year, Louis Van Gaal took this year's spending to
nearly £80m with Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin
yesterday following weekend arrival Matteo Darmian through the door.
But the signings spree isn't over with a striker and a centre-half still on United's hitlist.
With
Robin van Persie set to complete his £4.7m move to Fenerbahce and
Javier Hernandez also likely to leave, United have only Wayne Rooney,
their first summer signing Memphis Depay and youngster James Wilson as
recognised goalscorers.
Having being told that
Thomas Muller, Karim Benzema and Harry Kane are not for sale, Uruguay
international Cavani has emerged as the No1 target with United
encouraged by suggestions that he is unsettled with Paris St Germain.
PSG
will want Angel Di Maria in exchange but United are understood to be
reluctant to trade their record signing despite his debut-season
struggles and would prefer to make a straight cash offer of around £50m
for Cavani.
As for an experienced centre-half, Valencia's
£25m-rated Otamendi is the man under consideration following long-term
target Mats Hummels decision to stay with Borussia Dortmund.
One
position United do not look like having to strengthen is goalkeeper
with Real Madrid refusing to meet their £30m-plus valuation for David De
Gea and also unwilling to negotiate an exchange deal with Sergio Ramos.
De
Gea was included in the tour squad as United hurried through the deals
for Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger and Darmian so they could fly out to
the USA with their new team-mates yesterday.
With
Michael Carrick missing half of United's games last season through
injury and approaching his 34th birthday, Van Gaal needed to strengthen
his midfield engine room and says Schweinsteiger's experience and
winners' mentality will be a huge asset.
Van
Gaal, who worked with the player during his spell as Bayern Munich boss
between 2009 and 2011, said: "Bastian is the ultimate professional and
there is no doubting his talent and his ability to control games. He
brings a wealth of experience and is an excellent addition to our squad.
"He
is, of course, no stranger to me. I worked with him during my time at
Bayern and I am truly delighted he is joining Manchester United. His
record speaks for itself; he has won every honour at club level and was a
major part of the successful Germany World Cup-winning team last
summer."
Schweinsteiger, 31 next month, said of
his surprise switch from Bayern: "I didn't take the decision to leave
lightly. Manchester United is the only club that I would have left
Munich for.
"I feel ready for this new and
exciting challenge in what I regard as the most competitive league in
the world and I am looking forward to working with Louis van Gaal
again."
Schneiderlin, 25, has had more of a
slow-burn career, joining Southampton as a teenager when they were in
League One in 2008 and then developing into one of the Premier League's
best holding midfielders and a France international with nine caps.
Van
Gaal said: "Morgan is a very talented player with great energy and
ability. His skills will complement the players that we already have and
I am very pleased that we have been able to complete this deal before
the tour to the United States.
"That training
camp will be very important in our preparations for the new season and
gives Morgan and the other players a chance to show our fans what they
can achieve together."
Arsenal also wanted Schneiderlin but he insists his eyes were set only on Old Trafford.
"Once
I learned that United were interested in signing me it was a very easy
decision to make," he said. "I have enjoyed seven very happy years with
Southampton and it's a club that will always be in my heart. But the
chance to be part of this squad to help this great club be successful
was too good to miss.
"I'm excited to be
starting that journey on our trip to the USA. I know what Manchester
United means to fans all over the world and I'm looking forward to
experiencing that."
De Gea's deputy Victor
Valdes, Rafael Da Silva, Reece James and Nick Powell were all left out
of Van Gaal's 26-man tour squad fuelling suggestions they could all be
heading for the exit door.
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