Man United continue to make inroads but should they sign Eriksen or Goetze?

Given the lack of inspiration in Manchester United’s midfield – beyond 37-year-old Paul Scholes – it is little wonder that the rumour mill has been working over-time to link the club to just about every young, talented midfielder out there. Just recently United were linked to 19-year-old Danish sensation Christian Eriksen and now there’s some evidence that Sir Alex Ferguson is chasing German wonder-kid Mario Goetze.

If there’s any truth to these claims, I think Ferguson’s switch in targets is logical – particularly following Eriksen’s recent quotes in the Daily Mail. Speaking about his trial run at Chelsea, Eriksen noted that: “They buy players who can play now. You might not get a game until you are 21. So why should you go there?”

The emphasis is clearly on getting as much game time as possible and can United fans genuinely claim he’d be a nailed on starter? I don’t think so. Whilst Eriksen is a big prospect for the future – there’s no guarantee he’d adjust immediately to the rigours of the Premier League.

When it comes to Goetze, I think the young German’s (who’s also just 19-years-old) main preference is that he joins a team capable of competing for trophies. He’s noted many times that his dream move would be to Barcelona where it would be very unlikely that he’d earn a starting berth ahead of the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Xavi and Andres Iniesta.

But United can offer Goetze the chance to win trophies and ample opportunities to claim a place in the starting-XI. With Scholes gone, he’d be competing against the likes of Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick and Anderson – if he can transfer his prowess in the Bundesliga to the Premier League, he won’t have a problem establishing himself with Man United.

Mario’s agent recently told calciomercato.com: “I think in Europe all the top clubs are interested in Mario. I can confirm that I have had contact with Juventus and Manchester United, but not only them.”

It seems then that United’s interest is real, proving that United are still in the market for world football’s most talented young players. Signing Goetze ahead of all the competition would prove a real coup – but what would it take to bring him to Old Trafford?

“I don’t know if he’ll go away after this season, you should ask the Borussia. But I think that they will not let him leave for less than 40 million euros.”

That’s not exactly cheap, but you have to say that it’s a fair price for the young man who is capable of single-handedly lifting Borussia Dortmund’s midfield. As such, if United are to make a bid for one talented young midfielder this summer, I hope they go for Goetze.

But what’s your take? Would Goetze be a good addition at Old Trafford?

Follow @ThePerfectPass on Twitter for details on all the latest updates and various football-related musings.

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.