First off I don’t believe that Manchester United or their coach Louis van Gaal have just decided that FC Barcelona’s Pedro wasn’t good enough for their squad.

Yesterday it seemed like it was all systems go with the club edging closer to completing the transfer with Chief Executive Ed Woodward flying out to Spain to agree personal terms with the Spanish international forward.

Yet today it was announced that Chelsea have come in and snapped up the attacker. Whilst United are desperately trying to brief the British press that they were no longer interested in the player.

If I am being honest I think Pedro may have been put off rather than Van Gaal being no longer interested.

Looking in from the outside the Spanish players seem unsettled at Old Trafford.

The omissions of both David de Gea and Victor Valdes this season seems to have unset the Spanish group in the dressing room.

For Pedro, the Victor Valdes situation will have raised serious alarm bells. Van Gaal has been ruthless in dealing with the keeper, sending him away from the first team squad and putting the veteran up for sale. That stubbornness and strict regime can often put off players especially if they have other options available to them.

The fact that United seemed to have taken their time over the deal and tried to haggle the price down didn’t help the situation either.

I also think that the twenty-eight year old will see Chelsea as being further along in their current project and will fight for more trophies, even though they are currently five points behind both Manchester sides in the English Premier League.

He’ll add even more quality to the side and should offer even more goals and assists for the ‘Blues’.

With Manchester City now looking set to bring in another long term United target in Nicolas Otamendi and Sergio Ramos announcing his new contract signing at Real Madrid, United’s summer is turning into a bit of a nightmare.

Yes they’ve brought in Memphis Depay, Morgan Schneiderlin, Sergio Romero, Matteo Darmian and Bastian Schweinsteiger and the squad looks stronger than last term but they still don’t look strong enough to take the league title or compete fully in the Champions League.

Man United now have to make up for lost time.

The David de Gea situation needs to be sorted out asap. If he goes, then  a replacement needs to be found!

Then the Red Devils will need to strengthen up-top. Wayne Rooney needs stiff competition in the centre forwards role.

United also need a high performing wide-man who can offer more assists and goals.

At the moment Adnan Januzaj has been getting a chance to fill that role but Louis van Gaal still has reservations about the young Belgian winger:

“He is 20 years old. The characteristics of a young player are that he is not consistent. He has to show that. Maybe he can show it this season. It is possible.”

It also seems possible that the twenty year old could be loaned out for the season, with Everton, Sunderland, Southampton and Borussia Dortmund all linked with a move for the youngster.

So United really need to get their finger out and move quickly to bring in even more top class new recruits.

They simply cannot afford to sit back and watch their rivals snap up great players and improve their squads. As that could mean yet another season without Manchester United truly challenging for top honours!

Posted on August 19th, 2015 by scott
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