Manchester United transfer news: Bayern Munich join PSG in battle to tempt United to sell £60m midfielder Angel Di Maria

Di Maria faces an uncertain future at Old Trafford ahead of the imminent arrival of Memphis Depay

Jack de Menezes

Thursday 28 May 2015 17:27 BST

Angel Di Maria is wanted by both PSG and Bayern Munich, according to reports (Getty Images)

Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are among those looking to sign Manchester United flop Angel Di Maria as the Premier League club consider cashing in on their record transfer.

Di Maria enjoyed a bright start to his career in England following a British record £59.7m transfer from Real Madrid last summer, with his chipped goal against Leicester displaying his talent that the world saw at last summer’s World Cup.

But a drop in form coincided with a burglary at his Cheshire home which appeared to unsettle the Argentinian, and he subsequently lost his place in Louis van Gaal’s first-team plans and had to make do with a place on the substitutes’ bench in the run-in to the Premier League season.

Seven players Manchester United regret letting leave

Show all 7

1/7Seven players Manchester United regret letting leave

Seven players Manchester United regret letting leave

Diego Forlan

Forlan was absolutely useless at Manchester United (aside from a double against Liverpool that United fans still sing about). The Uruguayan took eight months and 29 games to get his first goal and managed just 10 league strikes in the 18 months he was at the club before being sold to Villarreal. However, he would go on to be prolific in Spain, first with Villarreal and then Atletico Madrid. At the 2010 World Cup he even won the player of the tournament award.

GETTY IMAGES

Seven players Manchester United regret letting leave

Jaap Stam

The Dutch defender spent three seasons at Old Trafford and won three league titles and the Champions League. Despite that he was allowed to leave after making some controversial comments in his autobiography. Sir Alex Ferguson thought it made sense to sell him to Lazio because Stam had appeared to 'lose a little bit' anyway. However, he was superb in Italy and Fergie later conceded 'in playing terms it was a mistake'.

Seven players Manchester United regret letting leave

Paul Pogba

Pogba was just beginning to emerge at Manchester United when he left the club for Juventus. He was accused of disrespecting the club and United arguably didn't do all they could to keep him. It didn't take long for the Frenchman to establish himself in Italy and he's now valued at around £60m.

GETTY IMAGES

Seven players Manchester United regret letting leave

Gerard Pique

Having snatched Pique from Barcelona's youth academy, in 2008 he returned to the Nou Camp. The Catalan side matched a £5m buy-out clause for the defender and United respected the Spaniard's wish to return to his homeland. The then 21-year-old would develop into one of the best defenders in Europe and win numerous titles with Barcelona, plus the Euros and World Cup with Spain.

GETTY IMAGES

Seven players Manchester United regret letting leave

Patrice Evra

More recently, Evra was allowed to leave the club. The Frenchman spent eight years at the club but was deemed to be a fading force and sold to Juventus for £1.2m. In retrospect, Manchester United must have wished they could have called on his experience during tough spells of the most recent campaign, whilst suggestions that he's past his best have been ridiculed by his role in taking Juventus to the Champions League final.

Getty Images

Seven players Manchester United regret letting leave

Carlos Tevez

'Welcome to Manchester' was how Manchester City celebrated signing Tevez, who just the season before had been at United. The Argentina international left Old Trafford after difficult talks that resulted in the player informing the club he wouldn't be staying. Having let a player who helped them win two league titles and the Champions League slip through their grasp, he would go on to win the Premier League and FA Cup with their nearest rivals.

GETTY IMAGES

Seven players Manchester United regret letting leave

Paul McGrath

Wanting to rid Manchester United of its booze culture, Ferguson let McGrath, who appeared to be drunk during a TV interview, leave for Aston Villa for a mere £450,000. A couple of years later he won the PFA Player of the Year award and helped Aston Villa beat Manchester United in the final of the League Cup.

GETTY IMAGES

Di Maria’s future at Old Trafford remains unclear given that Van Gaal admitted he does not know what the winger wants to do with his future, and The Mirror reports that German champions Bayern have joined PSG in a battle to make United a bid that would allow them to speak to Di Maria.

Di Maria comes off on the final day of the season (GETTY IMAGES)

PSG were in the running to land the Argentina international last season only to be beaten to the finishing post by United, and with Uefa’s Financial Fair Play restrictions set to be relaxed, they would have more than enough in their transfer budget to launch a move for the 27-year-old.

It’s believed that United will hold out for around the £60m they shelled out for Di Maria despite him not enjoying the best season at Old Trafford.

With Memphis Depay set to complete his £25m move from PSV Eindhoven once the transfer window reopens, Van Gaal already has a replacement for Di Maria should he leave in the summer, and any windfall of £50m-plus could go towards an ambitious offer to try and sign Gareth Bale from Real Madrid.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies