You know things are getting fairly desperate for your club side when it starts to get linked to £65m multi-player deals. It’s more or less a sign that your current crop just can’t cut it.
That’s what happened to Arsenal last summer (and the summer before). It’s what happened to Tottenham when they lost Gareth Bale (in the end they ended up spending a lot more than this). This is the kind of money which Chelsea and Manchester City spend.
So it’s a little odd to hear Manchester United linked with a £65m swoop for two FC Porto players. (Source: The Star).
But it’s also a sign of the times. Since losing Sir Alex Ferguson, the club has been rudderless, directionless and almost entirely devoid of craft. David Moyes seems to have steadied the ship in recent games, but he still has a way to go.
It’s particularly important that Manchester United assess their defenders during the next couple of transfer windows.
Rio Ferdinand is getting on in years. At 34-years-old, he’s beginning to offer the club diminishing returns. If United keep hold of him for too long, he’ll turn into a liability. Then there’s Nemanja Vidic, who is both a fantastic defender and a constant injury doubt. I hate to say it, as I like both players, but this pairing will provide no long-term stability for Manchester United.
This is surely why Manchester United are in the running to sign two FC Porto centre-backs, Eliaquim Mangala and Nicolas Otamendi.
French ace, Mangala, is one of the most impressive young defensive talents in world football (he’s right up there with Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane and PSG star Marquinhos). At 22-years-old, he’s only going to get better and better. That’s why he has a £40m price-tag.
Nicolas Otamendi is another talented centre-back. He’s 25-years-old, quick along the ground and he reads the game well. He’s also a great distributor of the ball. He has a £25m price-tag.
These two aren’t coming cheap. But Manchester United have proven willing to splash the cash on defenders when necessary. Ferdinand ended up costing the club around £34m after all.
Whether David Moyes is willing to spend £65m on his defense remains to be seen. As options go, however, they don’t come much better than Eliaquim Mangala and Nicolas Otamendi.
What’s your take? Should Manchester United splash £65m on these two defensive talents?
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