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Picture this: Manchester United transfer targets that got away

  • <p>As was the case with Bale, putting in random offers for vast sums to try and sign this World Cup winner was always a policy doomed to failure. Bayern made it clear that they would not sell Muller, yet Woodward kept making lavish offers.</p>
    1/8

    Thomas Muller

    As was the case with Bale, putting in random offers for vast sums to try and sign this World Cup winner was always a policy doomed to failure. Bayern made it clear that they would not sell Muller, yet Woodward kept making lavish offers.

  • <p>United clearly tried to turn a negative into a positive when they tried to get this Spanish World Cup winning defender as part of a deal that would see their keeper David De Gea move to Real Madrid. Yet not for the first time, United failed to grasp that Real Madrid’s refusal to sell Ramos was not just for show.</p>
    2/8

    Sergio Ramos

    United clearly tried to turn a negative into a positive when they tried to get this Spanish World Cup winning defender as part of a deal that would see their keeper David De Gea move to Real Madrid. Yet not for the first time, United failed to grasp that Real Madrid’s refusal to sell Ramos was not just for show.

  • <p>Throughout the summer of 2014 and 2015, United seemed convinced that they had all-but sealed a deal to sign this German World Cup winner. Borussia Dortmund confirmed that they received bids from United for the player and conceded that they were willing to allow him to leave, but Hummels opted to stay at Dortmund.</p>
    3/8

    Mats Hummels

    Throughout the summer of 2014 and 2015, United seemed convinced that they had all-but sealed a deal to sign this German World Cup winner. Borussia Dortmund confirmed that they received bids from United for the player and conceded that they were willing to allow him to leave, but Hummels opted to stay at Dortmund.

  • <p>United were keen to sign the former Arsenal skipper in the summer of 2013 and that interest continued into the summer of 2014. Once again, Woodward failed to finalise the move.</p>
    4/8

    Cesc Fabregas

    United were keen to sign the former Arsenal skipper in the summer of 2013 and that interest continued into the summer of 2014. Once again, Woodward failed to finalise the move.

  • <p>United ‘sources’ were confident that a deal for this Bayern Munich midfielder would move to Old Trafford last summer and they were briefing journalists to suggest his arrival was imminent in late May. A day later, they suddenly announced they were no longer interested in signing this World Cup winner before he joined Real Madrid.</p>
    5/8

    Toni Kroos

    United ‘sources’ were confident that a deal for this Bayern Munich midfielder would move to Old Trafford last summer and they were briefing journalists to suggest his arrival was imminent in late May. A day later, they suddenly announced they were no longer interested in signing this World Cup winner before he joined Real Madrid.

  • <p>United’s links with Bale date back to their botched attempt to sabotage his world record breaking move from Tottenham to Real Madrid in 2013 and they have made bids for the Welshman since. His new contract with his Spanish employers ends their interest in him.</p>
    6/8

    Gareth Bale

    United’s links with Bale date back to their botched attempt to sabotage his world record breaking move from Tottenham to Real Madrid in 2013 and they have made bids for the Welshman since. His new contract with his Spanish employers ends their interest in him.

  • <p>How much print and web space was taken up by United’s pursuit of Chilean international Vidal in 2013 and 2014. In the end, Woodward failed to get a deal over the line.</p>
    7/8

    Arturo Vidal

    How much print and web space was taken up by United’s pursuit of Chilean international Vidal in 2013 and 2014. In the end, Woodward failed to get a deal over the line.

  • <p>Arguably the most crazy transfer rumour of them all saw Woodward embark on a doomed pursuit of this Brazilian superstar. Barcelona were never likely to sell.</p>
    8/8

    Neymar

    Arguably the most crazy transfer rumour of them all saw Woodward embark on a doomed pursuit of this Brazilian superstar. Barcelona were never likely to sell.

<p>As was the case with Bale, putting in random offers for vast sums to try and sign this World Cup winner was always a policy doomed to failure. Bayern made it clear that they would not sell Muller, yet Woodward kept making lavish offers.</p>
<p>United clearly tried to turn a negative into a positive when they tried to get this Spanish World Cup winning defender as part of a deal that would see their keeper David De Gea move to Real Madrid. Yet not for the first time, United failed to grasp that Real Madrid’s refusal to sell Ramos was not just for show.</p>
<p>Throughout the summer of 2014 and 2015, United seemed convinced that they had all-but sealed a deal to sign this German World Cup winner. Borussia Dortmund confirmed that they received bids from United for the player and conceded that they were willing to allow him to leave, but Hummels opted to stay at Dortmund.</p>
<p>United were keen to sign the former Arsenal skipper in the summer of 2013 and that interest continued into the summer of 2014. Once again, Woodward failed to finalise the move.</p>
<p>United ‘sources’ were confident that a deal for this Bayern Munich midfielder would move to Old Trafford last summer and they were briefing journalists to suggest his arrival was imminent in late May. A day later, they suddenly announced they were no longer interested in signing this World Cup winner before he joined Real Madrid.</p>
<p>United’s links with Bale date back to their botched attempt to sabotage his world record breaking move from Tottenham to Real Madrid in 2013 and they have made bids for the Welshman since. His new contract with his Spanish employers ends their interest in him.</p>
<p>How much print and web space was taken up by United’s pursuit of Chilean international Vidal in 2013 and 2014. In the end, Woodward failed to get a deal over the line.</p>
<p>Arguably the most crazy transfer rumour of them all saw Woodward embark on a doomed pursuit of this Brazilian superstar. Barcelona were never likely to sell.</p>
Yahoo Sport UK

Manchester United transfer chief Ed Woodward has made some ambitious transfer moves over the last three years, with these star names slipping through his net after mega-money bids.