With less than four weeks to go before the January transfer window opens and with United’s midfield seemingly on its deathbed after the injury that has sidelined Michael Carrick – even though, it has to be said, it did not enjoy particularly good health before that – it seems only sensible for David Moyes to look at strengthening his squad next month.
While the rumour mill is yet to fully kick on – and, hopefully, it won’t reach the ridiculous levels it did last summer – United have already been linked with a host of names, some of which seem strangely realistic, considering the reputation Ed Woodward developed last summer.
Today the Guardian reports that David Moyes could turn once more to Athletic Bilbao’s central midfielder Ander Herrera. United tried to sign Herrera on deadline day in September only for a farce of epic proportions to unfold, as three Spanish lawyers enter the Basque club’s headquarters claiming to be acting on behalf of United, with the club strongly denying any involvement.
Herrera’s release clause is set at £29.9m but David Moyes is thought to be hoping to sign the 24-year-old for less than that amount, particularly as Herrera has somewhat failed to show the outstanding form he enjoyed last season.
Bilbao have enjoyed an excellent start to their campaign and sit fourth on the table after 15 games, but Herrera, who’s notched 10 La Liga appearances for his club this season, is yet to register an assist or a goal so far but, as the Marouane Fellaini deal thought us last summer, hoping to prize a player away from his club for less than his release clause can be a rather risky strategy.
Meanwhile, Anderson could be on his way back to Portugal as Porto are reportedly keen to take the Brazilian on loan with a view to a permanent deal, a news that will undoubtedly please many Reds.
United face one of their most important transfer windows in a long time this January and they simply have no room for error.
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