Transfers that MUFC missed out on and/or didn't go in for.

Since we're approaching pre-season and that's when "silly season" starts, when all sorts of teams get linked with all sorts of players, i've took it upon myself to draw up a list of just a few players that Manchester United have missed out on over the years or the ones that quite simply, got away.
[ list is in no particular order ]

1. Xherdan Shaqiri: When United took on Basel in the Champions League season of 2011-2012 season, i earmarked this man as the main man to watch in the away tie mainly and i was proven right. Predominantly left footed but like his team-mate Arjen Robben, he's very effective when given a yard on his left foot. Not given a lot of time to shine under Jupp Heynckes due to his team mates being in terrific form, you have to wonder whether he'll be given time to shine under up and coming manager Pep Guardiola and the imminent arrival of Mario Gotze who can play in Shaqiri's position.


2. David Villa: This man when played in position down the middle of the pitch is easily one of, if not the best finisher on the planet. Left Valencia due to the club not having a choice in having to sell him due to debts behind the scenes, he was signed by Barcelona for a fee of 40 million euros and has since gone on to score in a Champions League final against United and lift the cup itself and win 2 La Liga titles. The majority of the games he's played in however, he has been pushed out in a wing position to accommodate Lionel Messi in the Barcelona team however with a still more than decent record of 32 in 76 games, he's doing very well.


3. David Silva: Sticking with former Valencia players, we move on to David Silva.
This Spanish playmaker left Valencia due to similar circumstances as to why the afore mentioned David Villa left. The Spanish team were in desperate need of funds and David Silva was another player they could cash in on and what a player he has become for Manchester City. The main catalyst behind Manchester United's biggest home loss in over 30 years when City won 6-1 at Old Trafford, Manchester City must hope this man won't be lured back to Spain by the likes of Real Madrid or Barcelona in the years to come.


4. Arturo Vidal:  This tenacious Chilean box to box midfielder's name was on the lips of many Manchester United fan's lips when he became available to move when he was at Bayer Leverkusen. Full of stamina and with a slight mean streak to his game, he could have became the perfect partner for Michael Carrick however, moved to Juventus in the summer of 2011 for a fee of 10.5 million euros to become a partner to Claudio Marchisio and Andrea Pirlo and hasn't looked back since.


5. Rafael Van Der Vaart: One of Hollands best left footed midfielders this side of the year 2000, Spurs bought the Dutch playmaker for a mere £3 million pounds when United bought the not-so-gifted Bebe.
Can be played in the middle of the park or at the tip of the diamond in a 4-1-2-1-2 formation however wasn't renown for having superb stamina and was quite injury prone in his time at White Hart Lane.

6. Eden Hazard: The one that got away for what most football fans think, because of money. Despite being quite arrogant, to the extent of dominating his own transfer saga in the summer of 2012, the Belgian winger/playmaker has the talent to back it up. A third of the "three amigos" in Chelsea's attacking midfielders and an important part of the "golden generation" of Belgiums current team, many United fans can't help but wonder what could have been if he hadn't snubbed the reds.

7. Javi Martinez: This man has become the missing puzzle in Bayern Munichs midfield over the last season.
Moved from Athletico Bilbao the summer after they lost the Europa League final 3-0 to Atletico Madrid and hasn't looked back since. Tenacious, strong and full of stamina.. he has not only given Bastian Schweinsteiger more freedom to roam forward he has also became a vital player to have on their team for set pieces. 8. Mesut Ozil: Real Madrid bought this Turkish born German attacking midfielder after the 2010 World Cup for a mere 15 million euros and has so far, racked up 100 assists in La Liga. Very agile and with one of the best first touches in world football, this man and Mario Gotze have very similar attributes and when both played behind the striker/s in Germany's national team they share the nickname Gotzil.