Manchester United look a far more attractive prospect for players since the arrival of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer whose interim position is expected to be made permanent in the summer.
There would be uproar if it wasn't.
A number of players bidding to make a blockbuster move this summer may well have shunned the Red Devils if Jose Mourinho was still at the helm, but with Solskjaer running the show he may be able to lure some of the best players - and rising stars - in the game today over to Old Trafford.
Two of which are Real Madrid star Gareth Bale, who is almost certain to leave the Bernabeu at the end of the season, and Borussia Dortmund’s young English star Jadon Sancho who has been in sensational form this term.
One former star who arrived at Man Utd for a (then) sizeable fee is Rio Ferdinand who traded Leeds for the red-half of Manchester in a £30million transfer - which at the time made the defender the most expensive British footballer in history.
Ferdinand, speaking on talkSPORT’s breakfast show, was asked which of Bale or Sancho he’d rather his old employers sign, to which he responded:
“I’d take both! Manchester United can afford both.
“They’re different players, you can’t compare them. One is at the beginning of his career and one is at the other end of his career.
“Sancho has huge potential, he can be anything he wants to be.
“And Gareth Bale, if you’re talking about having great moments in current football, big goals on big occasions, he’s up there in that sense.
“If I was someone at Real Madrid I’d think about the trophies we’ve won while he’s been there and I’d be delighted.
“If I was someone looking for a player right now and he’s available, I’d take Gareth Bale if the price is right. But it’s down to Gareth isn’t it.
“If he’s got a desire to leave now, he’s a bit disgruntled, the fans aren’t having him as much as he thought and he wants to get out of there, a deal can be made somewhere else, I’m sure.”
United are currently the 2/1 favourites to snap up Bale in the summer, and they also lead the way in the race for Sancho’s signature (4/1).
Both players are expected to be in action tonight, as Sancho’s Dortmund bid to conjure up a stunning comeback against Spurs, having lost the first-leg 3-0, while Bale’s Madrid are 2-1 up against Ajax, with home advantage.
Meanwhile, an injury-ravaged Man Utd are preparing for their return tie against PSG in France, which takes place on Wednesday night. Last time out the French giants inflicted the first, and so far only, defeat of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s interim spell to date.
