Manchester United may be unhappy about paying what they consider over the odds for football talent this summer. The reported cooling of interest over Arturo Vidal, due to the price, suggests that Manchester United still feel that they can sign the cream of Europe this summer.
So it’s time for a wake up call!
Manchester United are not in The Champions League – the competition which every top player aspires to.
So, if they have to pay a little extra in order to snare the sorts of players who can provide an immediate return to the competition then spend they must. Because the alternative is too frightening to imagine.
Of course the money in football these days is ridiculous. But that’s the status quo. And if Manchester United don’t spend big this summer they may find that their challenge even greater next year.
So here’s who soccersweep feels Manchester United can and should sign ASAP.
Arturo Vidal – Case in point. The player has name checked the club this week and seems open to a move.
“I’m already at a great team, Juventus, so I will be just as calm if the Manchester United option falls through.”
There’s very little not to like about him and he’s easily good enough for a sluggish and decaying Manchester United midfield. It would be madness not to sign him for the sake of a few mill.
Inigo Martinez – Not often mentioned in relation to a Manchester United transfer but this young Real Sociedad centre back is absolute mustard. The 23 year old would be an excellent addition to the squad – a highly skillful and buccaneering defender.
Mats Hummels – Martinez would bring youth and tenacity but Mats Hummels would offer Manchester United experience and authority. Still only 25 years of age but you would have thought he was older because he’s so composed and such a canny operator in the centre of the defence. A must sign.
Marco Reus – it is difficult to think of a more two-footed player in the top leagues right now. The Dortmund forward would not come cheap but would be worth every penny, adding the creative spark and class that has been so lacking from Manchester United’s wide play over the last couple of years. Forget Di Maria. This guy is one of the best players in Europe.
Ross Barkley – Manchester United are going to need a totemic player to take the club forward (literally and figuratively) for the next 10 years. Wayne Rooney has done brilliantly and Ross Barkley should take the baton next. This lad can be anything he wants.
Let’s see Inigo Martinez in action. Manchester United fans: who does the club need to sign most?
Spanish Red
Jul 18, 2014 at 11:11 pm
Agree with most of what you say except for the Rooney has been brilliant bit. I think, overall, he has been extremely disappointing. When you consider the money spent on him as a teenager he has never reached his potential. He has never become world class often flattering to decieve and in his three world cups he has looked like a fish out of water. You may cite injuries for the first two but even he said on the last one that there were no excuses, he was going to perform, he was perfectly fit. He may have been fit, he just wasn’t any good.
Finishing top scorer on a couple of occasions was well below par. He should have been top scorer every season if his hype was to be believed.
Now, selling Rooney would kill three birds with one stone. It would remove the question as to whether he and van Persie can play together, it would allow Mata to play number 10 and it would allow van Persie the captaincy, which Rooney does not deserve.
Over the years, apart from the occasional flash of brilliance, Rooney has been decidedly average.
Drauzy
Jul 19, 2014 at 6:21 am
I feel so disappointed when I hear someone talk this way about Rooney. What’s the whole point about everyone pointing fingers at Rooney when things go wrong but wud never praise him when things are going right. Rooney has been an outstanding player season after season. Ronaldo has won countless goalscoring awards for his club, what has he done for Portugal? Don’t mix his club performances to dat of his Country. Rooney is 2nd to the legendary Bobby Charlton in the scoring charts of Manchester United. He’s 5th or 6th in the all time scoring charts of the EPL n for England at national level. What’s de meaning of singling Rooney out all the time for blame. I will forever pick Rooney over Rvp any day cuz he’s just better than Rvp. Rvp shows his glimpses of goalscoring abilities once in a while. In a dark season last season, Rooney carried de team on his shoulders. Sacrificing himself all over the pitch running all over like a headless chicken. It’s unfair how everyone treats him. Anyone can bet with me on this, he’s certainly going to be one of our best players come the end of this incoming season. Appreciation is key to every individual’s success. He has given United over 10 years of good service yet, he’s still unappreciated. Rvp came 2 years ago and everyone now despise Rooney n revels over an off n on Rvp. Rooney has been Unfairly treated n I just want anyone to put himself in the Rooney situation and u ll see how badly people have treated him. It’s very very unfair
Ephraim
Jul 19, 2014 at 11:38 am
Thank u so much for citing out such truth.GOD BLESS U.i never knew some one else saw what is happening or feel how i feel.
Eric
Jul 19, 2014 at 12:11 am
You make a lot of valid points. Having Vidal, Reus and Hummels would vastly improve the club. However, I would rather the tenacity and raw talent of Mangala to put alongside Hummels. While Barkley is an up and coming player, he makes as many poor plays as he does inspirational ones. Di Maria does not have the physical force of Barkley but he has been one of the key engines driving Real. Besides, some time Reus, Rookey or RVP will need a break and the bench has to be enormously strong to win the PL or CL. Di Maria is a winner and has the pedigree to prove it whereas Barkley has an over-inflated ego of his own ability.
My hope is LVG will get some additions soon so that they can be worked into the squad and to allay concerns that the success of Man United in the transfer market will be no better this year than it was last year.
Alan
Jul 19, 2014 at 1:07 am
Rooney for too long has lived off a reputation he has never deserved, lazy at best is the reputation he deserves, he believes far too much of his own press, the most consistent thing he has ever done is getting yellow and red carded, sell him and it will fund enough cash for a big spend up, we need to buy Arturo, well said, Reus is a must , but you are wrong about Di Maria, his speed is necessary out wide, we can build a whole team around him, Hummels is a certainty, but I favor DeVrij over martinez and if possible William Carvalho, we need a deep lying midfielder, even Bastian Schweinsteiger would be great
yash
Jul 19, 2014 at 11:05 am
Please sign vidal to boost the midfield as carrick already out. We need a player like Roy Keane and Paul scholes in that sector that suit one and only Vidal