Fabregas + Robben On 9-Man Wish List As Van Gaal Gears Up For £200m Spending Spree

As we approach the opening of the summer window clubs will be intensifying their efforts in the transfer market so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, Louis van Gaal has some ambitious transfer targets.

Cesc Fabregas and Arjen Robben head-up Louis van Gaal’s ambitious nine-man hit list of transfer targets as the new Manchester United boss looks set to splash the cash after being handed a £200m warchest, according to reports today.

Van Gaal was officially confirmed as David Moyes permanent successor on Monday afternoon with Ryan Giggs named as his assistant, and the experienced Dutchman has vowed to help ‘make history’ at Old Trafford after a frustrating 12 months.

The former Barcelona coach is expected to be given sizeable funds to rejuvenate the United squad after they finished off a disastrous campaign in seventh place in the Premier League table and without European football to look forward to next season.

Some newspapers suggest the budget will be £150m but the Daily Mail seem to think he’ll be given nearer £200m and although he’s not due to start work until after the World Cup, the paper claims he’s already drawn up an ambitious list of targets and told his backroom staff which players can be sold over the coming weeks.

Topping the Dutchman’s wish-list is Cesc Fabregas with Barcelona expected to cash-in on the midfielder if their £45m asking price is met. United would no doubt jump at the chance to sign the Spaniard but it remains to be seen whether Arsenal will look to scupper any potential deal by activating their first option buy-back clause they had inserted into his contract when they sold their former skipper three years ago.

The Mail also suggest that Arjen Robben is on van Gaal’s radar but it could prove to be extremely difficult to prize him away from Bayern Munich. Team mates Toni Kroos and Mario Mandzukic are also on the agenda but they should be a little easier to land, as Kroos has just one year remaining on his contract at the Allianz Arena while Mandzukic is almost certain to leave after a bust-up with Pep Guardiola.

Defence is going to be a priority for van Gaal after the departures of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand and the report claims that he’s identified German centre-backs Mats Hummels and Holger Badstuber as his main targets. However, Borrusia Dortmund are going to fight hard to keep hold of Hummels and the same goes for Bayern and Badstuber, so United are going to have their work cut out in trying to sign the highly-rated duo.

Luke Shaw is widely expected to complete a £27m move from Southampton with the England youngster replacing Patrice Evra at left-back, while other notable targets for LVG are understood to be midfielder Kevin Strootman and Eintracht Frankfurt right-back Sebastian Jung. Strootman has long been linked with a move to Old Trafford but with the Dutch international out for the foreseeable future with a serious knee injury, the Red Devils may have to wait if they want to finally get their hands on him.

It’s certainly an exciting list of targets but it remains to be seen just how many of them United are going to be able to land. A marquee name like Fabregas or Kroos would be a real statement of intent and it would also lift the fans, who’ve endured a miserable year since Sir Alex Ferguson left.

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However, while big star names are important, strengthening the defence is key for van Gaal and it’s likely to pose his biggest challenge. I’m not convinced they will be able to get their hands on either Hummels or Badstuber, so the new United boss may have to switch his attention to other targets as he looks to rebuild the deposed champions back-line.

What players would you like to see arrive at Old Trafford this summer? Share your views below.