Three players Manchester United need to sign before deadline day

Juan Mata's £37.1m move to Old Trafford may not be the last arrival during this winter's transfer window. Here we look at the three players at the top of David Moyes' shopping list.

Luke Shaw

David Moyes is an admirer of the young left-back but faces stiff competition from Chelsea to sign him. The summer would seem a more realistic time to sign him but an early move would represent a coup if the Scot and Ed Woodward, the executive vice-chairman, could persuade Southampton to sell now. The 18-year-old would provide pace, rawness, and fresh vigour to the left of the champions where Patrice Evra is a fading force. Shaw's age also means a £25m-plus spend would be a wise investment. With Juan Mata able to play wide as well as through the middle, Shaw's speed and desire to attack would allow him to link up with the Spaniard and pose a problem for opponents that is currently absent due to the manager's chopping and changing over who should play on the wings.

Yohan Cabaye

Yohan Cabaye was a revelation at Newcastle last season after arriving from Lille and also impressed for France at Euro 2012. Photograph: Graham Stuart/AFP/Getty Images

For Moyes this looks a no-brainer. Now that Mata is through the Old Trafford door if the manager also added the Frenchman to his midfield suddenly United would be transformed, a far different proposition to that of a few days ago when only Michael Carrick was of the quality required at the club. Newcastle United want £25m for the Frenchman who is a proven Premier League operator and France international with hopes of making the squad for the Brazil World Cup in a few months time. With Arsenal also interested, alongside Paris Saint Germain who have just had a £14m bid rejected, Moyes faces competition for Cabaye. The manager's ideal is to sign the very highest quality of player, the bracket Cabaye is just short of, but with Champions League qualification in the balance, the chance to add the 28-year-old in the notoriously difficult winter window should hardly be passed over. If Cabaye was landed before 1 February Moyes could send out a front six of Robin van Persie, Adnan Januzaj, Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata, Michael Carrick and Cabaye.

Toni Kroos

Toni Kroos is out of contract next summer and Bayern Munich may listen to offers to the highly rated midfielder. Photograph: Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images

The 24-year-old is a German international who was in the Bayern Munich side that took apart Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium earlier this season in a 3-1 Champions League group game win. An attacking midfielder, Kroos is a hardened Champions League footballer who played in the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 with his detail to man-mark Italy's Andrea Pirlo in the semi-final of the latter tournament an illustration of the versatility he would offer Moyes. Kroos's contract expires at the close of next season and a serious bid in the £25m-plus range may test Bayern's resolve to keep him, as Karl-Heniz Rummenigge, the president admits negotiations over fresh terms are not going well. "It is always about money in every agreement, and talks have so far failed to lead to a new contract for Toni. We are interested in prolonging his stay with us," he says.

Guardian Sports

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