What’s the strangest transfer story to have reared its ugly head over the last couple of days? It has to be The Mirror’s claims that Manchester United are now chasing Chelsea full-back Ashley Cole. Yes, he only has 12 months left on his Stamford Bridge contract, but are we really supposed to believe that he’d make a move to Old Trafford? Is he even a good solution to Manchester United’s problems? I’m not so sure.
Manchester United’s links to players like Leighton Baines made sense. Patrice Evra isn’t getting any younger and as his ability waxes and wanes, they’ll need to line up an alternative. Evra is slowly losing his pace and this has left United wide open at the back on a number of occasions.
So, surely, the solution for Manchester United is to bring in some sprightly young thing. A player who can speed up the flank and charge back as soon as the opponent starts counter-attacking. That kind of player isn’t easy to come by. They need dynamism and energy in abundance.
I’m not saying that Ashley Cole lacks this. He’s a fantastic defender and has a mean cross of him when he wanders forward. He’s been a fantastic asset for Chelsea over the years. But he’s now 31-years-old and may, like Evra, find himself slowing down over the coming seasons. Is this the kind of player Sir Alex should be investing in?
I don’t doubt that Ashley Cole would be tempted by the move. He’s shown before that his career is motivated more by money than any vested loyalty. Just ask Arsenal fans! The best thing for his career, however, is probably to stick with the more defensively minded Chelsea, where he’ll be afforded more protection from teammates further up the pitch.
A move for 27-year-old Leighton Baines would be ideal. He’s got bucket-loads of experience in the Premier League and yet he’s still got 4 or 5 of his best years ahead of him. The Mirror mention that Everton have a £15m asking price. That doesn’t sound too far off the mark to me. He’s got the quality and the nouse to make a genuine difference at Old Trafford and he’d fill a role that Sir Alex desperately needs to cover.
So surely Fergie should throw caution to the wind and make a move?
What’s your take? Would Leighton Baines be a good addition for Manchester United?
Please follow @ThePerfectPass for more football related action!
Introducing the neat little app that’ll pay you to view content tailored to your interests:
ThisisFutbol.com are seeking new writers to join the team! If you’re passionate about football, drop us a line at “thisisfutbol.com@snack-media.com” to learn more.