Think it's out of our hands, WC year is always a nightmare in the transfer market, especially if you are planning in buying half a team and some people want. Some players want they futures sorted before the WC begins while others prefer to do it after, not much we can do sadly.

Agents have far too big a say these days and they would much rather wait until after the WC where they will likely get more money.

"given the length of time it took to appoint van Gaal, is it even realistic to think this way?"

He's said he has already identified targets and who he wants to leave. Presumably that's why we are in for Shaw....

I think Shaw will come soon, Southampton already looking at a French LB.
I do hope we don't fixate on Bayern players too much.
At most they may let one or two players go, the first being the centre forward (Which we don't need), so unrealistic to expect more than one of Kroos, Robben, Muller, Badstuber to leave.
I really hope Vidal, Fabregas and Rakitic are high on that list

I'm sure we've briefed LVG on what we think we need, who needs to go and what players we've been scouting recently to help things along.

He will have seen us play like all of us and seen how poor we are in certain areas. I also would imagine that we have been in contact with LVG for a few months and not only after Moyes was sacked.

Why don't we just pick one national team from which to reinforce the positions needed and stay at their hotel throughout the world cup to get it all signed and sealed.

Ginter, Durm, Reus, Kroos, Goretzka. Sorted.

He has probably been planning his transfer list for months

Spurs job and United job both had same minimum requirement - 4th

Spurs probably had more cash however

Sad but true

I think people place an emphasis on this WC-inflation.

The fact is those who would have a good world cup - the usual stars of the big nations - are settled at their clubs.

The break-out stars would not be hooved up and parachuted into a club - unless there has been a dossier studying that player before hand.

How many break-out stars were signed because of monster performances at the 2010 and 2006 world cup?

Just go for players who aren't going to the World Cup; Nasri, Cole, Tevez..............

I think Kross is over rated, an upgrade in pace from Carrick admittedly but what ever happened to Ander Herrera...... is he still on the radar?

I see us buying 4 or 5 players
Shaw, Reus a CB and a CM (Fabregas/Kroos/VIdal) plus one other perhaps like Clasie

comment by garynevillesmoustache (U1910)
posted 1 minute ago
I think Kross is over rated, an upgrade in pace from Carrick admittedly but what ever happened to Ander Herrera...... is he still on the radar?
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He was selected in the Sky Sports La Liga team of the season, cant say I saw more than one of his games though

comment by garynevillesmoustache (U1910)
posted 1 minute ago
I think Kross is over rated, an upgrade in pace from Carrick admittedly but what ever happened to Ander Herrera...... is he still on the radar?
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Had a very good season by all accounts but no Spanish journalist I've seen would place him in the top class category. Would be a good addition but at Fellaini type money, anything else and he'd be over priced.

comment by The_Red_Cognoscente (U9741)
posted 9 minutes ago
I think people place an emphasis on this WC-inflation.

The fact is those who would have a good world cup - the usual stars of the big nations - are settled at their clubs.

The break-out stars would not be hooved up and parachuted into a club - unless there has been a dossier studying that player before hand.

How many break-out stars were signed because of monster performances at the 2010 and 2006 world cup?
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Ozil, Khadira, Gyan, Kone , Maxi Rodirguez, off the top of my head.

Not many though you are right, if there is an "Ozil" this summer though, you can guarantee our fans will go nuts again.

BB, bar Ozil ( and maybe Khedira, whom i don't particularly rate), those you listed are mediocre players.

And Ozil and Khedira were not unknown. Ozil refused to renew his contract at Bremen and he was known by everyone really. It was a matter of if, not when he would be snapped up.

I do agree that if there is an 'Ozil', yes, we should snap him up. But i guarantee that if there is one, we would not snap him use because of his world cup performances.

If say we buy Carvalho off the back of spectacular world cup performances, that would not be a surprise. As he has been destined for great things for a while now.

Really think spending 60-70m on Shaw and Carvalho would be high risk strategy. Carvalho is now favoured to go to Monaco from something I read

Shame Moyes and Woodward dithered about with Herrera and Koke last summer. No chance of either leaving now. Both have CL football next year and I doubt Koke will leave a double winning team.

comment by Football_bloodyhell (U17867)
posted 13 minutes ago
Really think spending 60-70m on Shaw and Carvalho would be high risk strategy. Carvalho is now favoured to go to Monaco from something I read
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Then Kondogbia will be on his way? He'd be a useful addition and a lot cheaper.

Again I'm not sure paying £35m for Carvalho is good business for someone who is essentially a DM. Surely there are cheaper options? I haven't seen a great deal of him granted and he may well be the next big thing but it seems a lot of money for that position really

Agree TRC