Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has been an extremely busy man in the transfer market over the last year and a bit.
He has overseen the signings of eleven players at a cost of £221m and change. And he looks nowhere near the end of his investment plans just yet.
But, if you include the inevitable departures of Angel di Maria and Rafael da Silva, he has also sold or released 26 players, for around £93m (see details below).
So the overall outlay has been just under £130m so far.
But has he spent the money wisely?
We go through Manchester United’s transfer activity under Louis van Gaal.
2014
Ander Herrera £29,000,000
Has shown his quality in spurts and scored 7 goals last seaosn – his first for the club.
But his physique isn’t ideal for The Premier League and he may struggle to get into the team this season.
JURY OUT
Luke Shaw £27,000,000
Had an average first season as injuries put paid to any momentum.
But this lad is clearly a top player in the making and we expect a big season from him.
HIT
Marcos Rojo £16,000,000
Has grown into the team and, but for injuries and his Copa America involvement this summer, he would already be a nailed on starter.
HIT
Radamel Falcao Loan
Never did the business.
MISS
Ángel Di María £59,700,000
Didn’t play too badly but obviously hasn’t got the stomach for the job.
MISS
Daley Blind £13,800,000
Quietly efficient and adaptable. An LvG favourite.
HIT
Victor Valdez Free
MISS
2015
Memphis Depay £25,000,000
Looks like dynamite and will add much needed pace. Should be played out wide.
HIT
Matteo Darmian £12,700,000
The best player in pre-season tour of America
HIT
Morgan Schneiderlin £24,000,000
Already looks a bargain with his pace and aggressiveness
HIT
Bastian Schweinsteiger £14,400,000
If he can give two seasons to the club he will have paid back his fee and more. He’s world class.
HIT
Sergio Romero Free
Too early to judge.
So although LvG hasn’t yet got the balance of the squad right, he has bought well and Manchester United look stronger for it. There have been no outright duds except Radamel Falcao.
Total Purchases: £221,600,000
Sold
Tom Cleverly Free
Ben Amos Released
Tom Thorpe Released
Nani £4,250,000
Robin van Persie £4,200,000
Federico Macheda Free
Alexander Büttner £4,400,000
Jack Barmby Free
Rio Ferdinand Released
Nemanja Vidic Released
Ryan Giggs Released
Louis Rowley Free
Patrice Evra £1,500,000
Bebé £2,400,000
Shinji Kagawa £7,000,000
Danny Welbeck £16,000,000
Tom Lawrence £1,000,000
Charni Ekangamene Undisclosed
Sam Byrne Released
Jack Rudge Released
Michael Keane £3,000,000
Darren Fletcher free
Marnick Vermijl Undisclosed
Wilfried Zaha £6,000,000
Pending
Angel Di Maria £44,200,000
Rafael da Silva £7,000,000
Total sales: £93,950,000
Manchester United fans: Are you happy with Louis’s transfer business so far?
Johnson
Aug 4, 2015 at 11:30 pm
Comment:I am quite Happy with his Transfer Policy so far.Shipping Out “Dead-Woods” is surely a step in the right direction(though I’ll miss Rafael so much and I still think Di maria kinda Used Utd for a Season)…I still expect Pedro,one more Winger and Most essentially,Otamendi to come in to Balance the Window(If otamendi does not,then its fair to say Utd had a horrible market)..