United News – Dani Alves Signs, CB Deal Close, Vidal Coming In The Summer?

Manchester United may likely be the most active club during the next open transfer window in January. Dani Alves is United’s first January transfer target and has been reported to be positive after it is believed that a deal have been thrashed out with the Barcelona star, which will see him line-up at the Old Trafford next season.

The Barcelona right-back, who has been a backbone at the Camp Nou for many years, will be leaving the Catalan state at the end of the season to join Louis van Gaal’s empire. Chelsea and Liverpool were reportedly interested in signing the Brazil star but it seems the Red Devils have staged an upset at Anfield and the Stamford Bridge by getting the versatile defenders before fellow Premier League clubs could get to him.

Elsewhere, Stoke manager, Mark Hughes has played down reports suggesting that the Red Devils are interested in signing centre-back, Ryan Shawcross from the Staffordshire club. The Stoke Sentinel report that Hughes is puzzled by the latest reports, which claim Stoke City will part with their talismanic defender, moving back to the club he played for as a youngster.

“There has been no contact and I don’t expect there to be any and wouldn’t encourage any,” said Hughes.

“Ryan is very settled here and we have no intention of allowing him to leave.

“He is a big part of what we want to do in the future.”

However, Hughes denial seems not to have stopped the reports getting stronger as guardian are claiming the deal has been agreed in advance for the January window. In Germany, Borussia Dortmund CEO, Hans-Joachim Watzke has hinted that Manchester United have a good chance of landing either Marco Reus or Mats Hummels.

Watzke told TZ: “There are players here at Dortmund who are happy to play for 20 per cent less money.

“But that’s not the case when we’re talking about 50 per cent less money, and that’s where Real Madrid and Bayern Munich enter the fray.”

Of course, Watzke never mentioned United explicitly, but it is inferred he his discussing players with the financial capabilities to dwarf Dortmund, such as the Red Devils. Manchester United’s reject, Paul Pogba has evaporated all energies of a hope of a possible transfer from Juventus to Old Trafford, as he looks set to pen a new deal early next week.

Juventus appear to have succeeded in tying down the rising young star with a four-year contract extension thought to be in the region of £60,000 a-week plus performance related bonuses. Chelsea, Manchester City are also reported to have shown interest in signing the starlet. Juventus manager, Massimiliano Allegri has slammed reports suggesting Arturo Vidal could move to Old Trafford in January, and has stated his desire to keep the Chilean international at the club.

He told BBC World Focus: “The club has been very clear on Vidal.

“This season Vidal is a Juventus player and I think there is no possibility that in January he will go to Manchester.”

Well, thats that for January but a move in the summer hasn’t been ruled out. The Chilean midfielder had been heavily linked with a move to United over the summer and Louis van Gaal is rumoured to be preparing a January bid which will include Juan Mata-switch to Turin.