Over the last decade, Manchester United and Liverpool seem to have changed places. The Red Devils were the most dominant team in the Premier League but, since Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down, they have had their problems.
Liverpool, on the other hand, have accomplished what many felt they wouldn’t do. Jurgen Klopp finally brought a Premier League title to Anfield, yet it could easily have gone wrong for them if Louis van Gaal had his way at Manchester United.
The Dutchman, when he was appointed as the Manchester United boss in 2014, had a transfer plan that could well have kept the Red Devils up there with the very best in the country, and possibly the world.
Van Gaal spoke to FourFourTwo about the players he wanted Manchester United to sign during his tenure there, and it featured two of Liverpool’s current stars.
Louis van Gaal’s extraordinary transfer wish list
He said: “I wanted Robert Lewandowski, but when this proved difficult I tried to get Gonzalo Higuain instead. Before I had arrived, I also spoke with the board about Neymar. If you are at United, you have to think big – he was also interesting for the club in terms of selling shirts.
“I wanted to have quick wingers. For that reason, I also tried to get Sadio Mané and Riyad Mahrez. Thomas Muller was on my wish list, too, and in central midfield, I wanted N’Golo Kanté. I even tried to sign James Milner, who was already quite old but very multifunctional and possessed leadership skills.”
Mane joined Southampton in the same summer that van Gaal took charge of Manchester United. The Senegalese international spent two years on the south coast before making a £34 million switch to Liverpool in 2016 (BBC).
Mane has since been one of Liverpool’s best players. He played a massive part in helping Liverpool win the Premier League as well as the Champions League, something he could have done as a Manchester United player if van Gaal’s plan was put into action.
Milner is an interesting one. The Englishman was available on a free transfer in the summer of 2015 but leaving the blue half of Manchester for Old Trafford would have made some big headlines, especially if he succeeded at United.
Reds fans sure are glad that the duo made their moves to Anfield. Their feelings towards two key stars would have been very different had they ended up at Old Trafford. But Manchester United’s loss has clearly been Liverpool’s gain.
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