5. James McCarthy - 5/2
Anna Gowthorpe/PA Archive/Press Association Images
Current Club: Everton Having had an eye-catching first season with Everton after following former Wigan manager Roberto Martinez to Merseyside, McCarthy was the subject of serious attention from United back in May - if the media was anything to go by - which prompted opinion-slinger Roy Keane to warn the player that he should stick to Everton and continue his progression there rather than join his old club. At 23, McCarthy has plenty of time ahead of him, and he should probably heed Keane's warning, and stay with the Toffees, rather than running the risk of faltering like Jack Rodwell at City, or becoming the latest casualty of being a big fish in a big pond (as Marouane Fellaini suffered last year). He is a tactical genius, in the words of his current manager, and though his chance creation and scoring prowess is far from brilliant, he is the kind of dependable central midfield presence that United have gone for in recent years, in the same vein as Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher.
Actual Likelihood Of Move: Unlikely. United continue to be linked with the likes of Jordy Clasie and Arturo Vidal, and the available squad places for this kind of midfielder are surely limited - especially since Everton are unlikely to let their player for less than an eye-watering amount (he's British based after all).