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Football

08th Apr 2015

Now that Louis van Gaal is finally picking him, Barcelona want Ander Herrera

Five league goals and four assists for the Spanish midfielder

Patrick McCarry

Wonder if Barca will send guys to Spain, have them order pizzas and claim they had nothing to do with them at all.

Ander Herrera only won Louis van Gaal’s trust two months ago. After a prolonged period of bench-sitting, the Spanish midfielder was given his chance away to Swansea. Manchester United lost 2-1 but he scored a goal and was their best player on display.

Since that match, United have won five in a row and Herrera has shone. He teed up Juan Mata for his opener against Liverpool and scored twice in last weekend’s 3-1 win over Aston Villa.

It seems Barcelona are the La Liga giants closely monitoring Old Trafford at present. Mundo Deportivo is reporting that the Catalans are eyeing up Herrera for a spot in their midfield.

Barca have a pressing need to replace Xavi, who is Qatar-bound at the end of the season. However, André’s Iniesta – a player Herrera professes to admire – has just past that 30 barrier.

The Spanish newspaper states Barcelona will chance their arm with United this summer but are prepared to wait until 2016 to get their man. They bid €15m for Herrera at the beginning of last season but Athletic Bilbao, his own club, described the offer as insulting. He eventually moved to United in 2014 for €36m.

Good performances, however, are often noted by European powerhouses. United would like to believe they are still dining at the top table but one season under the strained stewardship of David Moyes has taken its toll.

Indeed, even when Alex Ferguson was at the helm, Real Madrid – a team he would not sell a virus too – were always nibbling at his brightest and best [Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Gabriel Heinze].

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