Arsenal and Chelsea have both been linked with big money moves for the Portuguese defensive midfielder, but the latest news suggests that Louis Van Gaal now has his cross-hairs firmly on the the Sporting player. According to the Daily Star, United have turned to the imposing 6'2" midfielder as a cheaper long-term alternative to Arturo Vidal - whose knee issues might put Van Gaal off - and in case a deal for Nigel De Jong cannot be captured. His positional sense and strength is hugely impressive, and he took his chance last season after being given a surprising first team role by new coach Leonardo Jardim, with consistently outstanding performances. Whether he is a better alternative to Vidal remains to be seen, but his stats at the World Cup, where he managed a massive 90.1% passing accuracy suggest he would be exactly what United need right now.