Time’s running out for Premier League clubs to get their hands on a few new additions before the January transfer window slams shut. With a number of clubs still looking to do a bit of business, there’s sure to be some interesting stories created over the next 24 hours.
Manchester United, for instance, are likely to be busy. They’re going to need to improve their defense after all.
Last summer The Red Devils let their two key defenders go (at least from a historical perspective): Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. Collectively, this duo were a huge loss. Together they offered a level of experience and know-how that’s hard to match. I think it’s fair to say that Manchester United haven’t done enough to replace them.
This brings me to Manchester United’s rumoured interest in Athletic Bilbao’s prodigal centre-back, Aymeric Laporte (Source: The Metro). At just 20-years-old, he’s already regarded as one of the best defenders in the world. Who knows how good he’s going to become over the next few years.
Naturally enough, Real Madrid are thought to be interested. Moreover, the aforementioned source suggests that Manchester United will have to spend as much as £32m to close the deal. That’s a huge amount of cash to spend on a young player.
Having spent big last summer, it’s not clear whether Louis Van Gaal will have access to this kind of cash during the January transfer window. Still, I can’t help but hope that the Manchester United top brass open their wallets. This is the key area of the squad that needs strengthening and Laporte certainly has enough about him to make a major impact.
More than that, however, he’s one for the future. Like Rio Ferdinand, this is a player who could be at the club for many years to come, building a similar kind of legacy. That sounds like an investment worth making to me.
What’s your take? Is Aymeric Laporte the right choice for The Red Devils? Can they close a deal in time?
Please follow @ThePerfectPass for more football related action!
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.