Manchester United hope to solve their plummet in form with the January transfer window capture of Valencia midfielder Sofiane Feghouli, exploiting Gary Neville’s appointment as manager of the La Liga giants.

The Red Devils lost once again on Saturday, folding against Bournemouth in the Premier League, and the pressure is on coach Louis van Gaal to find a new direction after the Christmas period. 

James Gray of the Express, relaying reports in Italy, claimed the Red Devils will focus efforts to capture the Algeria international and will use former player Neville’s new status at the Mestalla to their benefit. 

Italian publication Tuttosport (h/t talkSPORT) claimed Inter Milan will rival United for the signature of the winger, whose deal with Valencia runs out at the end of the current campaign. Fenerbahce are also thought to be preparing a January bid for Feghouli.

However, with Neville installed as the boss at one of Spain’s biggest clubs, United have a unique connection to their transfer target. 

Italian outlet Calciomercato (h/t Metro’s Jamie Sanderson) reported United will offer a strong wage package to the Algerian as Chelsea wait in the wings to also approach the player.

Here is a video of the player’s best moments of 2015:

Van Gaal admitted he needs to add pace and creativity to his team, but has been forced to turn to other options within his squad to balance his starting XI, as quoted by the Express‘ Joe Short:

I have said already in my first year many times we need speed and creativity on the wings.

You have seen that now we play with Jesse Lingard and he is not the most speedy winger in the world and [Juan] Mata is also not the most speedy winger in the world.

So first we must first finish that problem and then we can see how we have to play and how we are in balance with playing with speedy wingers.

Short suggested United could opt to move for Leicester City attacker Riyad Mahrez and said the “temptations of playing European football may be too much for the ace.” But the player’s agent, Kamel Bengougam, declared Mahrez will remain with the Foxes for now, per Short.

Feghouli would be a cost-effective signing for United, and his contract situation means clubs will be able to approach him with offers in the new year. Valencia will not want to lose the winger for free in the summer, and as LvG is desperate to add creativity, the stars seem aligned for the player to move to Old Trafford. 

The attacking midfielder has been restricted in his appearances this season, suffering with a foot injury, per Gray. He has made 15 appearances in La Liga and Europe combined this season but has only provided three goals as Valencia crashed out of the Champions League, according to WhoScored.com.

These statistics will not impress United fans, but his availability will be the driving factor behind any deal, not his current form. 

In other news, United full-back Guillermo Varela could leave the club in January after reports suggested Napoli will bid for the young defender.

Italian newspaper Gazzetta Dello Sport (h/t Sean Kearns of Metro) said the Serie A club are interested in signing the 22-year-old, who has only just broken into the United first team after arriving in June 2013 during David Moyes’ failed tenure as manager.

Varela has impressed in a United shirt—despite the team’s crash in form—but the Naples club could offer the player increased playing time.

The Uruguayan is unlikely to remain in the starting XI at Old Trafford when Van Gaal’s first-choice defence recovers its collective health, pushing the player out of the matchday squad.

Feghouli is an exciting talent, but it is questionable whether he is the answer to United’s issues.

He is widely respected in Spain as a dangerous attacking player, but to have a midseason impact at a huge club such as United would be a hard task for the Algerian. 

The player would fit LvG’s favoured formations and would offer the work rate the manager demands of his players.

Juan Mata has been given the job on the right side of the attack this season, but Feghouli is a more natural winger who would hug the touchline, worrying opposition full-backs.

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