Manchester United keen on Lazio duo Anderson and De Vrij

Manchester United are set to bolster their squad in the summer as they prepare for a potential return to Champions League football next season, with Lazio duo Felipe Anderson and Stefan de Vrij the latest players to have come under Louis van Gaal’s transfer radar.

The Red Devils, odds-on 2/7 with Coral for a top four finish, have enjoyed a recent rampant run, toppling close rivals Tottenham and Liverpool to take a comfortable position in fourth place of the Premier League table.

However, Ducthman Van Gaal will be keen to acquire a host of new signings this summer, and it seems potent pair Anderson and De Vrij are possible new arrivals at Old Trafford in the coming months.

United are understood to have dispatched chief scout Jim Lawlor to Italy in previous weeks to watch Lazio, with Brazilian attacker Anderson having scored his side’s recent 2-0 Serie A victory over Verona. The samba starlet has been a revelation this term, striking 10 times in total, including three in his last two outings.

Despite having just penned a new revised contract that ties him to the club until 2020, United are still interested in the 21-year-old’s summer signature. Although, the top-four fighters will have competition from Manchester City and Liverpool, as they have also reportedly inquired about the Brazil Under-21 international.

As well as boosting his attacking outlets, former Netherlands boss Van Gaal will target a new centre back, with Anderson’s Stadio Olimpico teammate De Vrij also being tracked closely. The Dutch defender worked under United’s present manager at the World Cup in Brazil last summer, and a reunion looks seemingly possible a year later.

The 23-year-old was a vital member of the Oranje outfit that finished in third place, after being knocked out by eventual runners-up Argentina on penalties, having featured in every fixture in the tournament for his country.

De Vrij has followed up his stand-out performances at the World Cup with an impressive season in Italy, and his dominant displays in the heart of Lazio’s backline, along with his ability to switch across several defensive position’s, make him an possible exciting newcomer at United.