Having dropped a shed load of cash on Juan Mata during the January transfer window, it’s interesting to see that Manchester United keep getting linked to big money midfielders.
Juan Mata cost the club £37.1m. The Red Devils’ latest target, Portugal starlet William Carvalho has a £37.5m buy-out clause written into his Sporting Lisbon contract.
That’s according to The Mirror, who claim that David Moyes has singled out Carvalho as the club’s next midfield recruit. He doesn’t do things by halves does he? Whilst he’s failed to get the requisite results on the football pitch, he’s not afraid to aim for the stars in the transfer market.
Moyes seems to be exclusively interested in players with huge price-tags. Perhaps this is due to his time at Everton being marked by financial austerity. Either way, it’s been a source of great excitement for Manchester United fans during a rather dour season.
The Mirror suggest that Sporting Lisbon are already in the process of signing up a replacement for Carvalho. Their target is Estoril’s Goncalo, a £410,000 rated midfielder who would represent something of a step down.
Nonetheless, this does open the door for further Manchester United interest in Sporting’s key man.
So who exactly is William Carvalho? He’s a 21-year-old defensive midfielder, known for his pace along the ground, physique and tough tackling. He reminds me a little bit of Alex Song, but he’s far more enthusiastic and willing than that former Arsenal star ever was.
The youngster’s comfort on the ball is also likely to appeal to David Moyes. Whilst his defensive diligence is impressive, he’s tough to dispossess, moves the ball about quickly and accurately and isn’t afraid to join in with attacks when the opportunity arises.
In other words, he’d fit in very nicely in this Manchester United side. Indeed, I’m sure Juan Mata will enjoy the additional protection that his presence will provide.
Of course, he has a staggeringly huge price-tag, so this move is still very much up in the air. Will David Moyes really spend so big on a defensive midfielder when he needs to buy new full-backs and centre-backs?
We await his decision with baited breath. I’ll certainly have my fingers crossed.
What’s your take? Should David Moyes spend £37.5m on a defensive midfielder?
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