MANCHESTER UNITED have signed Dan James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka so far this summer but no United fan is under any illusion – more signings are needed if we are to break back into the top four next season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s rebuild beginning with a young, exciting attacker in James and a new, top class right-back in Wan-Bissaka, is a step in the right direction but a lot more is needed and one key position to strengthen is at centre-back.
Harry Maguire is the man who United are going after this summer, with a £70m bid already being rejected by Leicester City, but who else could Solskjaer turn to if a move for Maguire falls through?
Harry Maguire to sign for Manchester United this summer – 17/20
The most obvious choice is Toby Alderweireld who is available for a cut-price £25m after Tottenham Hotspur activated a release clause last season by exercising their option to extend his contract by another year.
A Premier League proven international with experience at the very highest level, Alderweireld, 30, is the sort of readymade leader who Solskjaer is desperate for and the sprinkling of experience he needs alongside his younger signings. On top of that, he’d only cost £25m, so why are United not after him? Why are no clubs going after Alderweireld when he’s cheaper than what Aston Villa just paid Bournemouth for Tyrone Mings.
There must be a reason why no top level club is going after Alderweireld and maybe that’s down to his injury record, which has blighted him for the last few years, or maybe it is because he has absolutely no intention of leaving Tottenham Hotspur after their Champions League form last season. Either way, Alderweireld on paper, would be a brilliant alternative to Maguire, if he could keep his fitness.
Another alternative is far more unattainable but therefore even more desirable – Milan Skriniar from Inter Milan. The 24-year-old signed a new long-term deal in April and Antonio Conte sees him as an integral part of his new look Inter side, but if United want the very best in class, we should be looking at Skriniar.
At only 24, Skriniar is years ahead of where he should be and is already a world class centre-back, the likes of which we rarely see in the Premier League. Serie A brings out the best in defenders and it’s certainly done that with Skriniar, he’s a superb player and somebody who could immediately transform United’s defence.
Inter would have no intention of selling but given United are in talks over Romelu Lukaku and that potential transfer, there is an opportunity for United to test the waters with Skriniar. Play hard ball with Inter over Lukaku and who knows, maybe the impossible becomes possible.
Speaking of impossible, the third name on the list was the first name on the list of most United fans this summer – Kalidou Koulibaly. Is he the best centre-back in the world? He’s right up there and the 28-year-old is at the absolute peak of his powers right now. He’s somebody who could walk into any team in the world and improve them, he’s that good.
So, it’s no surprise Napoli have put a price in excess of £125m on him, a price which pushed United out of the market, but if we’re willing to spend £90m on Maguire, then United should cough up a bit more and get the world’s best. As much as Maguire is a big upgrade on United’s current options, Koulibaly is a big upgrade on Maguire – he’s on another level.
Koulibaly could absolutely become United’s version of Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, the sort of centre-back who is so good that it transforms a team. He could have that sort of impact at United and an fan would love to see him signed if Maguire is off the cards.
Any of these centre-backs, Maguire included, would improve United massively but if I had to choose one then it would absolutely be Kalidou Koulibaly.
Manchester United to sign Koulibaly this summer – 5/1
