ONTD FOOTBALL

Hope he's okay.

Ángel di María is being monitored by Manchester United’s incoming manager Louis van Gaal, who has identified the Argentina and Real Madrid forward as a potential summer target. The Germany defender Mats Hummels would also be open to a move to United if Borussia Dortmund agree to sell him.

If United were to land both players it could cost the club up to £75m, with the deals being financed by the sale of current players. Marouane Fellaini, Nani, Ashley Young and Shinji Kagawa are among those who Van Gaal may consider offloading.

Van Gaal, who leads Holland into Wednesday evening’s semi-final against Argentina at Brazil 2014, wants Di María to strengthen his forward line, with the new United manager an admirer of his pace and strength.

The 62-year-old has often played 4-3-3 when previously managing clubs and although he can tinker formations – at the World Cup Holland have lined up in a 5-3-2 – Van Gaal always favours speed when attacking, a style Di María would help enhance.

Di María, who has a thigh injury so will not face Van Gaal’s Holland team in São Paulo in Wednesday’s second semi-final, was man of the match in Real Madrid’s Champions League final extra-time win over Atlético Madrid.

While United would be expected to propose an initial bid of around £40m, Real’s interest in Monaco’s James Rodríguez, who was Colombia’s star performer in Brazil, means they may be prepared to listen to an offer in the region of £45m for the 26-year-old who is contracted until 2018, having signed a fresh deal two years ago.

Although Di María is happy at the Bernabéu, he came close to leaving the club in January, according to his agent Eugenio López, who claimed a “presidential issue” was causing his prospective sale. His wife also posted an Instagram message in November that said, “And you want to sell him?” after he scored against Galatasary in a Champions League group match.


Mats Hummels, the Raphaelite prince.

Hummels, who played the first half of Germany’s 7-1 rout of Brazil in the opening World Cup semi-final, has a contract until 2017 and although his camp believe that at present he may remain at Dortmund, there is an acceptance that his longer-term future is unclear, and that if the club were to accept an offer from United the defender would be open to the move.

Hummels, who could cost £25m-30m, is an admirer of Van Gaal, with the 25-year-old aware of his coaching abilities having started his career at Bayern Munich when the Dutchman was in charge of the club.

The central defender, while currently happy at Dortmund, also acknowledges that United’s pedigree and status as one of the continent’s premier clubs makes Old Trafford an attractive proposition should the possibility of a move occur.

SOURCE

Let's not even think about yesterday. I still can't understand why Real wants to sell di Maria.