Valencia and Manutd agreed to a three year extension early July...

C & P Daily Telegraph

"Barcelona have made an official £10 million bid for Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen, with talks currently ongoing between the two clubs despite competing interest from Manchester United. High-level talks are being held with Barcelona and, providing Vermaelen agrees and a similar fee can be achieved, Arsenal's obvious preference would be to sell him abroad rather than strengthen United."

"According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona director of football Raul Sanllehi flew to London on Wednesday for transfer talks with the Gunners.

The Catalan giants are reportedly desperate to sign Vermaelen after Paris Saint-Germain refused to listen to offers for Brazilian defender Marquinhos."

C&P from ESPN Soccernet

"Rafael, Marouane Fellaini, Nani, Anderson and Javier Hernandez have been told they have no Old Trafford futures by new boss Louis van Gaal, the Daily Mail has reported.

The Mail said Dutchman Van Gaal had told the five players that they would not be part of his plans in a series of face-to-face meetings, saying they should begin work to find new clubs before the closure of the transfer window on Sept. 1.

However, the paper said Japan international Shinji Kagawa had been told he did have a United future -- but that it would be as third choice behind Juan Mata and Ander Herrera."

I'm not sure why LvG does not want Rafael in the squad...he's good going forward and is a good right back as well...maybe he's concerned by his constant injuries. Too bad we can't keep Chicharito, I liked his poacher instincts and movement off the ball. I still can't believe Utd have to foot half of Fellaini's wages ( 100k pound per week) even if he's sold to Napoli for 15M pounds. What an absolute waste of money by Moyes!!!

Utd clearly have to buy a raft of players before we clear out these guys...still hoping for Blind, Cuardado and Benatia/Hummels. Di Maria's acquisition would be orgasmic but is too far off, Ancelotti still wants to keep him despite PSG's end of interest.

If Barca are interested in Cuardado then I don't think we have a chance - CL football is very attractive, along with playing with the likes of Messi. What is really irking me is that Chelsea have hijacked the Benatia deal and are preparing a bid...these wankers have no scouting prowess, they simply prey like vultures when another club expresses interest.

I believe with CL football we'd have acquired any player we'd have wanted, considering the war chest available to LvG. We'll have to stick with unwanted players, nkt! We'll wait to see how much muscle Woodward can flex in the remaining transfer window.

I agree, for a 19 year old the boy looks solid, Wenger has made a coup by converting a left back into a centre back.

Mangala's move to City now complete...City really needed that

http://www.espnfc.com/st...efender-eliaquim-mangala

Thomas Vermaelen: Barcelona seal move for Arsenal defender
Barcelona have completed the £15m signing of Arsenal's Belgium international defender Thomas Vermaelen on a five-year contract.

The 28-year-old passed a medical on Saturday and was presented to fans and media at the Nou Camp on Sunday after finalising the deal.

"Coming to Barcelona is a dream move - it wasn't a difficult decision at all," the centre-back said.

(then he gets injured in training out for 6 weeks)

Apart from the hype of all the players being linked with Man Utd that are just not coming...nothing spectacular has happened. Below are the "juiciest" rumors doing their rounds...

C&P from ESPN Soccernet

"Top pick: Liverpool are considering a short-term move for Samuel Eto'o as manager Brendan Rodgers seeks a striker following the departure of Luis Suarez.

- Mexico national team manager Miguel Herrera has urged Javier Hernandez to leave Manchester United this summer, with Juventus, Inter and Southampton all linked.

- Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is plotting a swoop for Manchester City defender Matija Nastasic as a replacement for Thomas Vermaelen."

Frankly am tired of all the players we're being linked with, (Blind, Benatia, Cuardado, Vidal, Di Maria etc etc), for once I want to hear we've sold someone...Cleverley, Nani, Anderson, Fellaini, anyone of those mediocre players we no longer need!

@Impunity, sadly I have to agree...except for Chicharito who's definitely wanted, no one is chewing a hard on over the others! Masaibu ya nduguye LvG...

Even in the bleacher voting who Man U will miss most; Chicharito has 61% followed by Raphael at 26% ......... Anderson at less than 1%.

Rojo was arguably the best player in the Argentina WC squad next to Di Maria, Mascherano and Messi. Very good going forward but the same cannot be said about his defensive abilities. Still a good addition.

Those Man Utd players that didn't even attempt to pull their weight during Moyes's tenure can rot in the bench till Jan when another transfer window materializes or try and impress LvG in training - the downside is that we're stuck with ridiculous wages.

Yesterday it was hilarious seeing Utd fans sarcastically cheer Fellaini with every touch he made during the last pre-season friendly against Valencia at OT....only for the fella to score the winning goal with the last kick of the game

We still need a CB and another defensive midfielder - where's Khedira when you need him???

@Impunity: Chewing Hard On - Transfer of blood from the brain to the pine tree...makes people do "aaai" sort of shenanigans, like buying Fellaini for 15M pounds, and expecting Utd to foot half of the wages...