Manchester United busy in the transfer market

Germany international Bastian Schweinsteiger is close to a move to Manchester United

After a relative quiet period in the transfer market there is suddenly a flurry of transfer activity at Manchester United.

On the back of Portuguese winger Nani joining Fenerbahce, United have completed the signing of an Italian full-back, are in talks to sign a German hero and are about to see a star striker depart.

Arrivals

United had only completed the signing of Dutch winger Memphis Depay prior to the last couple of days. That has changed in the last 48 hours, as Italian international full-back Mateo Darmian has arrived from Serie A outfit Torino for a fee of around £13million.

The 25-year-old is highly-rated and had previously been linked with a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid. However, he has now signed a four-year deal with the Red Devils.

Possibly the biggest arrival of the summer could take place in the next few days though, as Bayern Munich and Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger will undergo a medical at the club sometime today, before completing a move that is reportedly move around £14million to his German club.

Schweinsteiger has played a key role for Bayern for more than a decade, having made over 300 appearances for the Bavarians in his 13 year career and collected eight Bundesliga titles as well as a Champions League winners medal in 2013.

His finest moment came last year though as he helped his country to win the World Cup in Brazil for the first time in 24 years.

At 30 Schweinsteiger is the definition of a winner. He has achieved everything there is to achieve in the game, both at club and international level.

Regarded as one of the best midfielders of his type, Schweinsteiger is a master of dictating the tempo of the game from his position in the centre of the park. His ability to keep possession and spot a pass are his main attributes. He is an incredibly intelligent player.

No doubt he will be a very clever addition to the Manchester United midfield. He may well be an alternative to Michael Carrick, or maybe even a partner for the England international, although a similar sort of partnership with Spaniard Xabi Alonso was not a major success at Bayern.

The Red Devils are still being heavily linked with a big money move for Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin. The France international is believed to have been interested in signing the talented central midfielder, but it seems the Gunners have baulked at his price tag.

However, United remain in the hunt for the midfielder, but a move for the former-Strasbourg star looks like a strange one considering the likely arrival of Schweinsteiger in the next few days.

Out

United’s Dutch international striker Robin van Persie is set to arrive in Turkey to have a medical at Fenerbahce. The 31-year-old has just a year left on his contract at Old Trafford and had fallen out-of-favour at the end of last season.

The Turkish giants have been in negotiations with United over the strikers transfer since Thursday and the move looks set to be completed. The highlight of the striker’s United career came in his debut campaign at Old Trafford, when he helped the Red Devils claim the Premier League title.

However, he has struggled to have the same impact in the past two seasons, as injuries and lack of form have hampered his United career.

Van Persie’s exit could lead to United boss Louis van Gaal looking at bringing in forward options prior to the start of the new campaign.

Another United striker who could be heading out of the exit door is Mexican international Javier Hernandez. The 27-year-old spent last season on-loan at Real Madrid, but was restricted to a bit-part role in the Spanish capital.

The hierarchy of MLS outfit Orlando City are claiming that they are in negotiations with the Red Devils to sign the forward. ‘Chicharito’ is currently sidelined with a collarbone injury.

The news of Real Madrid legend Iker Casilla joining Porto could have a knock-on effect when it comes to United ‘keeper David de Gea’s future.

The Spanish international has one-year left on his deal with United and has been heavily linked with a move to the Spanish capital this summer. The exit of Casillas from the Bernabeu now leaves Real in search of a top quality new ‘keeper.

It seems that Los Blancos may now renew their interest in signing De Gea and are likely to make a move in the near future.

Progress

The Manchester United team is very much a work in progress at the moment. There is still close to a month before the new Premier League campaign kicks-off and still time for Van Gaal to strengthen his squad.

Who arrives at Old Trafford in the next couple of weeks will dictate whether United have a success campaign or not. Only time will tell if the Red Devils can strengthen their squad enough to mount a serious title challenge in the new campaign though.

Have Manchester United bought well this summer?