da apostaganha： Spain may have let their grip on the international scene slip during the summer, but home to both the reigning Europa League and Champions League title holders, there’s no questioning the quality on display in La Liga.
da bet sport： Indeed, it’s a division that churns out talent after talent from their exceptionally well-run youth systems, many of which eventually make it to the Premier League.
Manchester United have been linked with plenty since the summer, so now that the January window is finally upon us, we could see a few La Liga stars making their anticipated moves to Old Trafford this month.
So if you want to impress your United-supporting mates with some transfer knowledge, be sure to check out the FIVE Football Fancast have picked as the most likely to turn up at Carrington this transfer window.
AYMERIC LAPORTE
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Manchester United will be in the market for a centre-back this January and recent speculation suggests they’re already on the verge of announcing a deal for Athletic Bilbao prodigy Aymeric Laporte.
Indeed, The Express claimed a £25million deal was ‘80% complete’ on Monday, whilst The Metro followed up on Tuesday, reporting that the young defender was ‘packing his bags’ for a trip to Old Trafford.
So who is this San Mames starlet? Well, having become the defensive bedrock of a Bilbao side that finished 4th in La Liga last season, amassing 66 league appearances since his December 2012 debut, Laporte’s importance to the Basque outfit has quickly generated attention throughout the Premier League, particularly from Arsenal and Chelsea.
The 20 year-old’s phenomenal athleticism, chiefly his pace and imperious leap, should serve him well in the English top flight, but it’s also blended with confidence in possession and an astute reading of the game, epitomised best by Laporte’s average of 3.9 interceptions per match this term – the highest rate of any La Liga player.
The France U21 looks like a real prospect, ready to ply his trade at a higher level. But The Metro also claim Bilbao and United are yet to reach an ultimate agreement on his transfer fee.
MIRANDA
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A failure to land Aymeric Laporte could see Manchester United revive their summer interest in Atletico Madrid defender Joao Miranda.
The Mattress Makers are arguably the best defensive side in Europe, boasting an unparalleled work ethic and organisation, leading them to last term’s La Liga title and the 2014 Champions League final.
Miranda and centre-back partner Diego Godin (also linked with an Old Trafford switch in recent times) have been at the heart of it, and whilst the latter almost certainly won’t be sold this month, as reported by The Express, Atletico will have no option if United trigger the former’s £24million release clause.
That’s a lot of money to spend on a 30 year-old centre-back, but the Brazil international’s track record since moving to Vincente Calderon – including Europa League, European Super Cup, Copa del Rey and domestic titles – speaks for itself. Over the last two full La Liga campaigns, Atletico have kept an incredible 40 clean sheets with Miranda a near permanence at the heart of their defence.
The South American’s eclectic physicality, particularly his height, power and pace, should make him a good fit for the Premier League – but can Louis van Gaal justify spending so much on a defender with only a few years left at the top of his trade?
SAMI KHEDIRA
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With his contract set to expire at the end of the season and a new deal yet to materialise, it would be incredibly surprising if a major club didn’t move for Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira this month.
Manchester United’s engine room lacks balance and the German international could well be the missing element, as a dynamic box-to-box with ruthless energy and fantastic defensive awareness.
A Champions League and World Cup winner, both accolades coming during the summer, the 27 year-old’s quality and experience at the top level of the game remains undoubted – as is his suitability to the Premier League, being blessed with brawn, tenacity and an aerially dominant 6 foot 2 frame.
The Express believe United will look to capitalise upon the former Stuttgart enforcer’s uncertain future this month and Goal.com report he could be available for just £10million – a more than reasonable price for such an established and well-proven midfielder.
Chelsea and Arsenal have also been mooted as potential sutiors however, per The Express once again, whilst Khedira’s injury problems could be a major turn-off. Prolonged sideline bouts have resulted in the German making just 29 appearances across all competitions over the last 18 months.
PEDRO
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Under a three-window transfer embargo, Barcelona are hardly in a position to be selling their established players this month.
But Pedro’s immediate future in the Catalan outfit’s starting Xi looks rather bleak. Last season, his first team spot was overtaken by summer 2013 arrival Neymar, and this term he’s found himself in the same situation in regards to £75million acquisition Luis Suarez.
The Spain international’s quality remains without doubt however, with four La Liga titles, two Champions Leagues, a World Cup and a European Championship already on his CV, and Manchester United could certainly do with another speedy forward in their squad – perhaps even ending the days of Louis van Gaal’s 3-5-2 system.
Much like former team-mate Alexis Sanchez, who has taken the English game by storm this season, Pedro’s mix of pace, industriousness, versatility and netting prowess, bagging 95 goals in 294 appearances for Barcelona and yet to finish a campaign under the double-figures mark, could make him a huge hit in the Premier League.
Resultantly, he’s been linked with moves to Arsenal, Liverpool and United as recently as December, courtesy of The Express, but amid their current embargo, it would likely take an unrealistic offer to convince Barca to sell.
GARETH BALE
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A distinct possibility or just a wild pipedream? According to The Metro, Manchester United have launched a sensational £117million bid for Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale.
Of course, Premier League fans know the Welsh wizard well, having witnessed him develop with incredible velocity at Tottenham Hotspur, before scoring 21 league goals during his final Premiership campaign, winning him the PFA Player of the Year, PFA Young Player of the Year and FWA Player of the Year awards for 2012/13, and moving to the Bernabeu for a record-breaking £86million.
He’s since gone on to claim a more than acceptable 34 goals in 70 appearances for Los Blancos, but a recent bromantic break-up with Cristiano Ronaldo and increased criticism from the fanbase has put his future in jeopardy – especially amid rumours that the European champions have agreed a deal to sign Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus.
Unless the 25 year-old fancies another stint at left-back, he could suddenly find himself a peripheral figure in the Spanish capital, making a return to the Premier League a more than viable possibility.
Whether his move would happen this month or in the summer however, which admittedly, seems far more likely, remains to be seen.