Manchester United Plan Bid For Barcelona Duo Jordi Alba And Alexis

Manchester United are ready to launch a massive double bid for Barcelona pair Jordi Alba and Alexis Sanchez this summer, reports in Spain claim.

The Premier League giants are yet to complete their first summer signing, even though according to the reports new manager Louis van Gaal has been handed an estimated £200m to bolster the squad in order to return to the Champions League after the disappointing campaign under David Moyes.

And according to Spanish newspaper Marca, van Gaal is keen on bringing both Barcelona stars Alexis and Jordi Alba to Old Trafford.

Even though Sanchez has scored 19 La Liga goals this season, reports in Spain claim he is going to be sacrificed by Barcelona as part of the Catalans' huge summer overhaul to fund moves for new additions.

Arsenal, Liverpool and especially Juventus have been linked with the Chilean international recently while Marca now reports that United have joined the race to secure his services.

Barcelona paid Udinese £33m in the summer of 2011 to secure Sanchez but with the club desperately to fund moves they are prepared to listen offers of around £20m.

Meanwhile, van Gaal is also considering a move for Jordi Alba as an alternative to his first-choice Luke Shaw, with Marca claiming that United are set to offer more than £25m to secure the Spanish international full-flank.

Nevertheless, the BBC reports on Monday that the Premier League giants are closer to completing a deal for Shaw, after the youngster told Southampton he wanted to move to Old Trafford this summer.

United have had a £27m offer rejected for the 18-year-old left-back but it is understood they will increase their bid before considering any alternative.