Manchester United may or may not sign a centre back in the summer. Certainly most fans think that they should add at least one imperious defender after too many patchy moments for the back five last season.
But, with reports that Hummels could stay at Dortmund and that Nicolas Otamendi will possibly go to Real Madrid, the options could quickly decrease. John Stones will surely stay at Everton for another year at least and Miranda, for all his experience, isn’t a great long-term solution.
We have always maintained that Manchester United’s best bet would be to bag Bilbao’s Aymeric Laporte. While some Manchester United fans believe that an experienced centre back is a crucial addition we think that age is irrelevant. If Manchester United can sign a player of this quality they shouldn’t hesitate.
At just 21 Laporte is as strong as an ox and a very responsible team man who always seems to make the right decisions. He’s quick and has lovely feet. The other great advantage of signing Laporte would be that squad harmony could be maintained. Laporte wouldn’t expect to be a first choice straight away and this would allow LvG to give Smalling and Jones a little more time to prove themselves, after a really promising partnership developed in the last few months of the campaign.
This move is not without its obstacles either. Laporte signed a new contract this month and his release clause has reportedly been set at 50m Euros – Athletic are famous for holding their players to these release clauses so Manchester United would have to dig deep. But, in the long run, his price would look like peanuts because it would be spread over the dozen or so years that he would give to the club.
Laporte could have the same impact on Manchester United as the legendary Rio Ferdinand.
Manchester United fans: a great buy or too much of a gamble?
Gideon ashitey
Jun 18, 2015 at 9:44 pm
Man u shd 4get and buy quality pkayers 4eva pkayers lyk otamedi,sneiderlin roberto firmino nd one striker Benzema or Cavani