Talk is that Manchester United need to throw plenty more money at their problems in the coming transfer windows.
Recent comments from ex-Manchester United player Phil Neville have suggested that his former club need to spend plenty more money before they can think about winning the Premier League title once more.
United’s new manager Louis van Gaal, appointed in place of David Moyes, has splash out over £150m on Ángel di María, Luke Shaw, Ander Herrera, Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind and loan signing Radamel Falcao.
Absent from that list, though, was an out-and-out central defender, a position in which United have struggled this season as Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Jonny Evans battle for form and fitness and the youngster Tyler Blackett seeks to establish himself.
Neville believes that the biggest issue still needs to be addressed.
Speaking to BBC Radio, Neville said, “I know United have spent £150million.
“I think there’s another two transfer windows of similar amounts of money needed – maybe £100million – before they can even think about winning the title.
“There are still key positions in the team that need filling. I think the centre-back position is obviously the key area. Holding midfield or centre midfield needs addressing too.
“There were no world-class centre-backs out there [this summer]. I think that’s why in the next two transfer windows, United might still be looking for that world-class defender.”
Those comments have prompted plenty of debates and speculations about who United could shop for in January, but the fact is the assertion that Louis van Gaal needs to spend more money.
United need to get the right players to fill the loopholes in the team.
It’s was very obvious that under David Moyes and Sir Alex Ferguson’s final few campaigns at United, the club needed midfield steel, a replacement for the erratic Rafael and – following the departures of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, experience at the back is still lacking.
Although United made some decent signing in the transfer window, the likes of Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao were bought, but more hands are still needed in the midfield and defence to fortify the squad.
Daley Blind and Ander Herrera add quality in central midfield but as they showed against Leicester City, they are far better when things are going their team’s way, lacking the steel to dominate and change play from central areas.
United really needed to get replacement for Ferdinand and Vidic, or at the very least one of them, with the former prepared to accept a new deal had it been offered.
Instead, they waved goodbye to both without a worthy replacement, watching the likes of Ezequiel Garay, Bruno Martins Indi, Stefan de Vrij, Eric Dier and Calum Chambers all move on, but not to Old Trafford.
Similarly Moyes had earmarked William Carvalho as the player to add bite to United’s midfield, and yet despite the big bucks thrown about this summer, that area was seemingly ignored, the Portuguese international remaining at Sporting Lisbon despite being scouted by United more than 15 times last season.
United should not need to spend another £100million on just any type of players, but must sign quality players to add bite to the midfield and strengthen the backline.
Quality centre-backs are out there, and not all for ridiculous prices – as are box-to-box midfielders. But for whatever reason United opted to sign headline names over sensible solutions. And for that reason, for every outstanding goal Di Maria scores this season, there is every chance it will be forgotten after another defensive mishap. Further reinforcements are needed in defence that will inject much-needed urgency to their play.
@AnthonyNlebem
ANTHONY NLEBEM
