Everyone seems to be quite sure that Manchester United will actually make that one big signing they’ve been promising all offseason, and reports in Spain insist that their new players will be coming from Real Madrid, and specifically Mesut Ozil and Kaka.
El Mundo Deportivo, more of a Barcelona supporting paper (which makes this bit of news a bit less surprising) is suggesting that United will spend a combined €55 million on Mesut Ozil and Kaka, even though that both of them pretty much occupy the same position (Ozil is partially responsible for Kaka spending so much time on the bench for the last three seasons. Mourinho not liking the player is the other), and United might find it more useful to sign a central midfielder.
It’s not surprising to see Kaka linked with transfer rumors because he doesn’t seem to be in the plans of Carlo Ancelotti as a lineup player, with Isco and Ozil and his favorites to fill the attacking midfield, but Kaka enjoyed his best seasons with Ancelotti and AC Milan. Furhermore, his salary has always gotten in the way of a deal in the past, and United won’t be very happy to pay him €9 million a season, unless he’s willing to take a major pay cut.
Ozil? While he is one of the best in the world at his position, it’s hard to understand why Real Madrid would sell him. Ozil doesn’t have a reason to be unhappy, yet. Isco has arrived, true, but it doesn’t seem to be something that will interfere with Ozil’s playing time in the near future. United and the German have been linked quite a few times this summer, but something about this deal simply doesn’t make any sense.
Maybe it’s just a Barcelona paper trying to mess with Real Madrid players, but maybe United continue and chase unattainable or unreasonable targets. Only two weeks left, and it doesn’t seem like United are any closer to solving their bigger problems through a signing than they were when the transfer window opened.