The summer transfer window is a special time of the year. Clubs look for players to strengthen their starting team with a star striker, others replace outgoing players by taking gambles on youth talent or beef a squad up with free agents. However, every so often the media are treated to a club which produces such a shambles of a season that they can label them with the "overhaul" tag.
One star signing won't do it, the squad is rotten, the fans are lived, the four horsemen of the Apocalypse are on the chairman's front-door, so signings are a must. But when a club the stature of Manchester United go for a shopping spree, there are bound to be a number of red herrings. In response to the outlandish amount of transfer rumours regarding the club, we wondered what if United signed every player they were linked with?
Goalkeeper - David de Gea
The Spaniard has been in great form for United since his rough early spell at the club. One of the few players who stood out for the club this season, he's earned a call-up to the World Cup, and will surely be in Van Gaal's plans.
Right Back - Bacary Sagna
Still an Arsenal player, for a few more weeks at least, but Sagna has been linked strongly to both Manchester sides, the second coming of Samir Nasri perhaps? Or will it be a saga the likes of which we haven't seen since Hazard's "Red or Blue" conundrum.
Centre Back - Mats Hummels
One of the best defenders in the world, but surely he's a pipe dream for United? Costing close to £30 million, with no desire to leave, and the likes of Madrid, Barca and former club Bayern ready to line up bids if he did, there's a better chance of Bebe togging out for United next season.
Centre Back - Johnny Evans
Forget about your continental talents, the Dutch, the French, the Germans. United surely won't sign two starting centre-halves in one summer, so surely it'll be Jones or Smalling fighting it out for the other spot in central defence. Wrong. You've forgotten Honest Johnny Evans. The former Greenisland FC man was a favourite of Alex Ferguson, and far more experience than his two mistake-prone English teammates.
Left Back - Luke Shaw
Linked with both United and Chelsea, it's the Manchester side that have dominated headlines with their interest. A million pounds for every year he's been on the earth won't cut it though, as Southampton are said to want over £25 million for the youngster.
Centre Midfield - Toni Kroos
The chance to make more money and work with Louis Van Gaal again are two of the main reasons why this rumour won't go away, and all he'd have to give up is playing under Pep Guardiola, being part of one of the best teams in the world, trophies, Champions League football, a winter break, and the warm weather. Seems like a fair trade off.
Centre Midfield - William Carvalho
Just because Nani and Anderson had little top flight, or international, experience when United signed them from Portugal for huge money doesn't mean blowing £30 million plus on Carvalho is a bad idea...but it's definitely not a good one.
Right wing - Arjen Robben
Who cares that he's categorically ruled out a move, he's a top class winger, so he'll continue to share headlines with the reds until September 1st.
Left Wing - Juan Mata
Surprisingly, there's been a lack of rumours surrounding United's wingers, so United fans will have to make do with their £37 million January signing Juan Mata, but we promise to change this as soon as they are linked with a new attacker. *Tomorrow*
Attacking Midfield - Wayne Rooney
You don't pay someone £300,000 a week to sit on the bench, regardless of how renowned you are you making sweeping changes at a club. Much like a Catholic marriage in the 40's, Van Gaal is saddled with Rooney for better or for worse.
Striker - Robin Van Persie
A lovechild of technique and grit, RVP is Van Gaal's leader on the field. Encapsulating everything the manager stands for, and having a Sexton-Schmidt relationship off it, the dutch captain has been tipped to take over that role at United as well.
Honourable Mention
A team of Man Utd transfer targets wouldn't be fair with giving and honourable mention to Daley Blind, Fabio Coentrao, Seamus Coleman, Martins Indi, Bastian Scheinsteiger, Arturo Vidal, Cesc Fabregas, Jordy Classie, Memphis Depay, any player who Louis Van Gaal has ever seen, talked to, or heard about, and any Dutch player born between the years of 1984 and 1995.
Robben: Picture credit: Brian Lawless / SPORTSFILE
Hummels: Picture credit: Pat Murphy / SPORTSFILE
Kroos: Picture credit: Pat Murphy / SPORTSFILE
