By AARON CRANFORD
Manchester United has made some big splashes in 2015, but it’s not done yet. The English club wants to meet with Barcelona officials to hammer out a deal for Pedro.
The 27-year-old winger wants more first-team minutes, as he currently sits behind Barcelona’s dynamic trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar. Manchester head coach Luis Van Gaal thinks of Pedro as an ideal winger for his tactics, and wants to bring him on board.
The two clubs have a chance to talk things out face-to-face in the United States, as Manchester and Barcelona square off in an International Champions Cup friendly on Saturday.
Here are some more news and notes from Friday:
WOLFSBURG ADD VERSATILE DEFENDER CARLOS ASCUES
A strong showing in the 2015 Copa America has earned one Peru international a ticket to Germany.
Carlos Ascues goes from the Peruvian first division to Wolfsburg, which enjoyed a splendid 2014-15 campaign in the Bundesliga, finishing in second place behind Bayern Munich and winning the DFB-Pokal tournament. On Thursday, it added a fresh face to its defense.
“I am very happy and grateful that I will have the chance to play in Germany in the future and prove myself in one of the best leagues in the world,” Ascues said of the move to the club. “The transfer from Peruvian to German football won’t be easy, but I will do my very best to quickly make myself at home and integrate into the team.”
Ascues started all six games for Peru in the Copa America, helping his side to a surprising semifinals appearance and a third-place finish.
“We were looking to strengthen the center of defense and Carlos perfectly fits our requirement profile, as a young player with the potential to improve further,” VfL head coach Dieter Hecking said. “The fact that he can play in a number of positions makes the transfer even more sensible for us. He has what it takes to make his breakthrough in the Bundesliga.”
ROMERO SET TO MOVE TO MANCHESTER UNITED, MULLER LIKELY TO STAY AT BAYERN
While a meeting with Barcelona still needs to take place in order to make one signing, Manchester United is already preparing to add a new international goalkeeper to its group in the U.S.
Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero is reportedly making the move to Manchester after his contract with Serie A side Sampdoria recently expired. He is being offered a three-year deal and is expected to meet up with his new teammates in the U.S. while the club participates in its preseason friendlies.
Aside from being the starter for Argentina in the 2014 World Cup Final, the 28-year-old Romero also stood in goal for the South American giant during the 2015 Copa America Final. At the club level, he’s played with AZ Alkmaar and Sampdoria, while also spending a year on loan at A.S. Monaco in France.
However, Manchester United does not appear to be any closer to adding Thomas Muller from Bayern Munich, as Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said Thursday that a transfer of the German international was nearly impossible.
ARSENAL INKS NEW GIROUD DEAL, SET TO LOAN SZCZESNY
While Arsenal retained one of its key attackers Friday, it also is ready to say goodbye to one for a year.
Olivier Giroud has signed a new contract with the English club, which will see him stay until 2018, but Arsenal has also announced that goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny is close to leaving on loan to Roma.
“He could go on loan to Roma,” head coach Arsene Wenger told reporters at his a press conference. “We are pretty much done, it’s down to paperwork. As long as that’s not over the line, anything can happen.
“Szczesny is a top-class goalkeeper, and we have three top goalkeepers. If one of the goalkeepers can play somewhere, then it’s good.”
The manager still considers Szczesny to be a part of the plan moving forward, though, as Wenger said he rates the 25-year-old goalkeeper highly.
Pedro has been one of the most underrated players for Barcelona during this era. Having played there for a decade, he understands the system extremely well and always knows exactly where to be. He’s also the only player in their attack over the past few years that passes first and shoots second, and he makes the players around him better. Barcelona needs a player like Pedro to complement guys like Messi, Suarez, and Neymar, and they won’t be able to find a suitable replacement. Really disappointed with the direction Barcelona is going in.