According to the Daily Star, Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is set for a bumper summer spending spree. Defeat in Sunday’s derby showdown has tilted the title challenge in City’s direction. With the Blue side of Manchester in ascendance, the need for some kind of action is clear. Whether or not United still have the strength in depth to pick up the title this season remains to be seen. Next season, however will be an entirely different kettle of fish and it’s likely that United will need a couple of new signings to keep pace.
Yes, Manchester United spent almost £60m on players like Ashley Young, and Phil Jones. Whilst these signings have settled in nicely, they’ve done little to address the lack of genuine threat in the centre of midfield.
There are also concerns at the back. With Rio Ferdinand getting on in years (he’s 33-years-old) Fergie may be keen to bring in a replacement. The Star claim that United could be set to make a shock bid to bring Gerard Pique back to Old Trafford.
Since leaving the Red Devils, Pique has come on leaps and bounds. He’s transformed from a workman like defender into one of the world’s best. Yet he’s had an up and down season. Barca have been experimenting with a three man defence and the increased burden this placed on Pique was evident. Multiple one-on-ones, more responsibility, increased chance of error. It’s hardly ideal for a defender. As a result he was benched in key games against Chelsea and Real Madrid (both of which Barca lost).
Poor form aside, he’s more than proven himself capable of performing on the big stage. He’d be an excellent signing. The trouble is, he’s Barcelona through and through and wouldn’t come cheap. He left Manchester United back in May 2008 for just £5m. He’s worth significantly more now.
Can United afford to splash the cash on a defender when it’s clear they’re lacking a little depth in the centre of midfield? Yes Ferdinand’s getting on, but he’s got another year left in him and Nemanja Vidic will be back next season. Perhaps it’s time to get priorities right.
Wouldn’t the money that could be spent on Pique be better used bringing in a player like Inter Milan’s Wesley Sneijder?
What’s your take? Should Manchester United break the bank to bring Pique back to Old Trafford? Or should their priorities lie elsewhere?
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My ‘take’ is Sneijder can stay where he is!
At near 28yo he is not ‘one for the future’ or indeed ‘the now’ and Sir Alex has made it clear a number of times that up to 26yo is the highest age he will buy, so that also cuts out Dempsey from Fulham and quite why anyone thinks United need him beggars belief.
So many silly names have been linked to United as is usual but as seems policy nowadays, United will not be spending ‘a la City’ and therefore breaking the bank.
Obviously SAF will need to spend this time around due to the City threat and that almost certainly should mean Gaitan coming to OT along with Kagawa, so midfield will be amptly covered. Llorente would be a great replacement for Berbatov, as it appears Berba wants to finish his career on the pitch and not on the bench. A right back is very urgent, who that will turn out to be is unclear but Sir Alex has already lined someone up I’m sure.
That should be the end of the spending BUT then if Anderson and dare I say it Nani, were deemed surplus to requirements, then the money spent would be reduced somewhat by their sales and the Glazers would welcome that!
As for Pique, I just cannot see him leaving Barca that is unless the leaving of Guardiola plays any part and if it did, then United would welcome him with open arms.
Finally Harry Cloke – the headline ‘If you can’t beat them, by them’ should of course read BUY them!