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Manchester United transfer rumours and news: Paul Pogba to make £77m return; Hugo Lloris on the radar; Radamel Falcao in Juventus exit

A look at today's transfer speculation at Old Trafford

Monday 05 January 2015 12:24 GMT

Paul Pogba in action for Juventus (Getty Images)

MANCHESTER UNITED BOUND...

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba could make a sensational return to Old Trafford with Louis van Gaal making the French midfielder his top target.

Italian newspaper La Gazzetta Sportiva report that United could make a £77million bid for the talented 21-year-old, while other reports suggest Juventus see Marco Verratti as the perfect replacement.

The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, who has 10 caps for Italy, admitted he wants to play in Serie A one day having only played with Pescara in Serie B.

Juventus could also make long-term United target Arturo Vidal available for sale in the summer with the Chilean struggling for form this season so far. Vidal, 27, came close to joining Old Trafford in the summer but the club were concerned by his injury record. The Daily Star report that the Italian club could be willing to sell as he is no longer indispensable under new manager Max Allegri.

Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

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1/21Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Gareth Bale

Manchester United would love him and some reports suggest he would be open to a return home - but Real Madrid have said they wouldn't sell the winger at any price, even the mammoth £150m that has been mentioned in recent reports.

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Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Sergio Ramos

Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos would be perfect for United and is one of few truly world class centre-backs around. Another player Real will not want to lose, this move may wait until the summer.

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Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Juan Cuadrado

The Fiorentina and Colombia winger was a target of United's in the summer but a move never transpired. He is lightning quick, brilliant on the ball and gets his fair share of goals. May cost more than £30m, however.

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Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Ashley Cole

The former Chelsea left-back was linked with a move to United last summer, but instead went to Roma. There are suggestions he is unhappy in Italy and would be open to a return to the Premier League.

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Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Ron Vlaar

Out of contract at the end of the season and impressing in his Aston Villa shirt, Ron Vlaar could be a quick and cheap fix at the back. That he's Dutch won't do his chances of an Old Trafford switch any harm either. Picked up a knee injury in early January that will likely end speculation.

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Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Raphael Varane

The Real Madrid centre-back has been hugely impressive since breaking through at the Bernabeu. Would take a big bid to land the young France international, but that shouldn't be a problem.

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Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Ezequiel Garay

Manchester United are keen to bolster their Argentinian contingent and the arrival of Garay would do just that. United reportedly sent scouts to watch the Zenit St Petersburg player.

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Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Diego Godin

Having played a central role in taking Atletico Madrid to the 2013/14 La Liga title, the Uruguay centre-back is an obvious choice as Manchester United go in search of defensive reinforcements.

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Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Gerard Pique

He played for Manchester United before being allowed to return to his boyhood club Barcelona in 2008. But recently things have soured for the Spain international, with new Nou Camp manager Luis Enrique leaving him out a few times this season. Could he be heading back to Old Trafford again?

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Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Nathaniel Clyne

A call up to the England squad boosts your profile, and in the case of Clyne, it's led to inevitable speculation that he could leave Southampton. The Saints will be desperate to hold onto the young right-back, but as they found last summer, if players want to go they usually get their way.

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Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Benedikt Howedes

The Germany international can play on the left or at centre-back and it's understood that Manchester United have sent scouts to watch the World Cup winning-defender. The versatility of the Schalke player will appeal to Van Gaal.

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Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Mats Hummels

Another Germany international interesting United is Hummels. The centre-back was made captain at Borussia Dortmund last summer to help ward off interest from other clubs, but with the German side struggling this term, they might not be able to keep the suitors at bay next time around. A £35m offer has been heavily reported and this deal is certainly one that is the more probable to see in the near-future.

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Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Aymeric Laporte

The Athletic Bilbao defender, who has represented France at youth level, has been impressive of late and could be a longer-term option. Reports in Spain suggest a deal is "80 per cent" complete between the two clubs and would see United land one of the best performing up-and-coming defenders in the world.

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Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Sami Khedira

Manchester United have been linked with Khedira, but then, who hasn't? The Germany international looks certain to be playing somewhere other than Real Madrid next term, and it could be Old Trafford.

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Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Julian Draxler

The Schalke midfielder has been interesting Europe's top clubs for some time. So far, everyone has failed in their attempts to prise the youngster away from his boyhood club. With the money at Manchester United's disposal, they could persuade Schalke to relinquish.

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Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Paulo Dybala

Manchester United have been linked with a move for Palermo striker Paulo Dybala. The 21-year-old has been banging in the goals in Serie A this term, leading to speculation he's in line for a big move. But the Palermo president has indicated he won't be allowed to leave for anything less that £31m

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Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Yohan Cabaye

After leaving Newcastle for PSG, France international Cabaye has reportedly failed to settle in the French capital. That he has struggled to force his way into the starting line-up under manager Laurent Blanc hasn't helped. That could make him open to a return to the Premier League.

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Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Marcos Reus

Another highly sought German player. With Borussia Dortmund struggling this term and no Champions League football next season a real possibility, it seems likely Reus could be sold in the summer. United will have to fight to be at the front of the queue.

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Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Arjen Robben

The former Chelsea player has said numerous times he has no intention of leaving Bayern Munich. But then again, nothing footballers say can be taken as sacrosanct. His Dutch links and style of play make his a good fit at United.

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Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Kevin Strootman

The Netherlands international was heavily linked with United in the summer but a serious injury ruled out the prospect of a move. The Roma midfielder has since returned to action and so the rumours have started up again. A fee of £30m has been mentioned.

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Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Edinson Cavani

Almost immediately following his big-money switch from Napoli to PSG, there were suggestions Cavani was unhappy in France. Those rumours haven't gone away and the Uruguay international continues to be linked with an exit. Should United pass on signing Falcao permanently, Cavani could be a good alternative.

Van Gaal could find himself in the middle of a goalkeeping carousel as Real Madrid step up their chase to find a replacement for Iker Casillas. Carlo Ancelotti is keen to upgrade on the great who is still Los Blancos' No 1 but a shadow of his former self.

Their main target was Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea but he seems happy enough being Louis van Gaal's most important player and may turn down a move back to his homeland - he was at Atletico Madrid from the age of 13. Real Madrid may now turn their attention to Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, with Spurs apparently willing to sell their captain for £25m. This news has piqued United's interest and should De Gea move to Madrid, United could look to Lloris as a replacement.

A more pressing concern for United's Dutch coach is their defence, a problem that could be solved with a double swoop for German pair Mats Hummels and Benedikt Howedes.

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The two World Cup winners would see a move to Manchester United as a step up, with Hummels said to be unhappy with struggling Borussia Dortmund and Howedes Schalke outside of Europe's elite.

EXITS...

Last season's boy wonder Adnan Januzaj is wanted by PSG in the summer, with the Belgian reported to be unhappy at his lack of playing time this season. Van Gaal ruled out a loan move for the winger last week.

Juventus are also linked with United loanee Radamel Falcao in the summer. The Colombian striker has not hit the heights expected of him so far and United, at the moment, will not be keen to fork out the £40m agreed with Monaco at the start of the season.

THE DEAL'S OFF...

A move for long-term target Wesley Sneijder could be off after the Galatasaray player's agent told clubs that he would not be available for a cut-price fee. The Dutchman has a release clause of £15.6m that must be met, according to Guido Albers.

The sensational return of Cristiano Ronaldo also looks to be dead in the water, with his agent, Jorge Mendes, saying Ronaldo will stay in Madrid and maybe move to the US late in his career.

Barcelona midfield enforcer Sergio Busquets and Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben are both set to sign new deals at their current clubs, ending speculation that they are moving to Old Trafford.

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