Manchester United Transfer News & Rumors: Victor Valdes Signs For Old Trafford; Luis Suárez to Follow?
With the transfer window wide open, Manchester United is grabbing headlines, first for the Jan. 8 signing of top-caliber goalkeeper Victor Valdes and second, for the reported transfer of forward Luis Suárez, both from Barcelona.
Valdes, a prominent goalkeeper packing six La Liga and three Champions League titles with Barcelona, has already green-lighted his transfer to United, reported BBC.
"The Spain international, who has been training with United in his bid to recover from a serious knee injury, has agreed to an 18-month contract," the piece revealed. The 32-year-old's contract with Barcelona ended with the previous season, and he had said beforehand that he had no intention to extend his stay.
Meanwhile, Suárez might soon bow out to the pressure to score with the famous Spanish team, one that has increased after the exit of sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta, who unveiled his addition to the lineup in August, and the resignation of his assistant Carles Puyol, the Daily Mail reported.
"The Uruguay striker is coming under increasing scrutiny ... since his £75-million move from Liverpool," Neil Ashton for The Daily Mail wrote. They reportedly want him to improve on his dismal numbers—12 games with only three goals, one in the La Liga and a pair in the Champions League.
United appears in the picture as a possible taker, along with Manchester City and Chelsea, the current two-way leaders in the Premier League. Arsenal tried to sign the forward, but the Spanish team had no intention of selling him just yet, per Daily Mail.
According to ESPN FC, the rumors give us a peek into the turmoil at Barcelona, also facing the trouble of Lionel Messi's potential exit.
"I think this is a club where things are gonna get even worse before they get better. We're looking at a club that has all sorts of issues," said one analyst in the video the piece posted. "They were winning, and when they are winning they can sweep those things under the rug."
The expert added, "The problem is that Barcelona did not win a major trophy last year."
The Guardian agreed, saying: "Here's a sentence you won't read very often: poor old Barcelona. It's all going wrong at the Camp Nou ... [I]t's chaos, chaos I tells yer."
The Premier League's top teams are taking advantage of the uncertainty in Spain, taking chances with their offers, the report claimed.
United, given the movement, is bracing for a shake-up.
According to BBC, Valdes' entry could get reserve keeper Anders Lindegaard booted out, and topple 24-year-old David De Gea from his spot as the first-choice goalkeeper. Also up for the mix-up are 21-year-old loan Sam Johnstone and 24-year-old Ben Amos.
Valdes could be the top guard for the No. 3 Premier League team, after recovering from a tear of his anterior cruciate ligament in March, said BBC.
The Guardian said De Gea could leave, wanted by Real Madrid and, also, by Barca. The vacancy could be filled up by Tim Krul.