There have already been two new additions to the Manchester United roster this transfer window, but are young up and comers Javier Hernandez and Chris Smalling really the only two fresh faces required in the current Manchester United squad?
While I have the utmost confidence in the managerial experience Sir Alex Ferguson boasts, I am a little unconvinced by the lack of quality players being seriously courted by the Red Devil’s supremo. There have been countless names linked to an Old Trafford switch this transfer window – and even well before the transfer window began – but there has been no official word on a potential new signing who will ply their trade in the Red half of Manchester as of yet.
There has been speculation that funds are not available for Sir Alex to add to his squad, countered with official statements from David Gill that “funds are readily available”, followed by Ferguson’s assertion that he is happy with the strength of his squad heading into the new season and that further player arrivals are unlikely.
But I think United do need a fresh face, if not two, to at least try to regain the Premier League title this year. One or two quality signings could make the world of difference to the squad who were indeed contenders to lift the Premier League crown for a forth consecutive year last season, but fell just short of the mark.
Being realistic though (and as a fan, being slightly hopeful at the same time) I have an inkling feeling that there is not going to be a new arrival at Old Trafford, and if there is to be a new signing this transfer window, there will only be one. This one signing must fill the gap in one of the two areas United were lacking last season, a midfielder with the ability to create goals as well as score them and a striker to assist Wayne Rooney in the goalscoring department.
Two possible and potential signings that I think could benefit the current squad are Karim Benzema and Mesut Özil. I’m sure all you United supporters are crying out for one big name signing this summer like I am!
While the signing of another striker seems pretty unlikely, Ferguson has apparently reignited his interest in Karim Benzema, who struggled to make an impact at the Santiago Bernabéu last season. It has been claimed that Benzema may be considered surplus to requirements at Real Madrid this season, but this so far is nothing but speculation.
Also, whether Sir Alex has made a concrete inquiry about the Frenchman who he failed to sign last summer remains unclear, and I for one begin to wonder whether Ferguson is starting to have doubts over the man who lit up the Stade de Gerland in Lyon. But that is just me being negative about Benzema making the move to Spain rather than England last season and the Frenchman would still cut a welcome figure at Old Trafford in my opinion.
Benzema proved himself as a youngster plying his trade for Lyon in the French League where he was a prominent figure for the 7 time French Champions, scoring 43 goals in 112 appearances, all the while still boasting youthfulness as one of his biggest assets. At age 22, Benzema still has the ability to flourish and definitely has the potential to improve his game. Whether Madrid is the right place for his game to improve I don’t know.
However I remember reading an article some time ago which I can’t for the life of me find, that said something along the lines of, ‘young and undeveloped footballers do not go to Real Madrid to develop their skills, developed footballers go to Real Madrid to boast their already developed abilities’, and I agree entirely.
Old Trafford could be the place Benzema is allowed to find his feet again after a poor season at Madrid, but like I said before, whether United will sign another striker seems unlikely. I, for one, would definitely love to see Benzema line up alongside Rooney in the first XI instead of Berbatov this coming season.
But the more probable transfer United may decide to make it the signing of a creative goalscoring midfielder, and while initially priced out of Manchester United’s grasp, Turkish born German midfielder Mesut Özil is apparently available for sale at a bargain price, having only one year left on his contract with Werder Bremen.
Özil is the kind of player who could develop into one of the world’s best with the right guidance. At 21, he is still a raw and very unfinished product, but his performances at the World Cup show that he has the ability to control the midfield area, assist goals and even score them, the type of player that United lacked last season.
Think of a young Paul Scholes, except he’s German and doesn’t have red hair. Özil is the type of player I would love to see spearheading a four or five man midfield with Rooney in front of him. He has an array of passes, he makes quick and well thought out decisions on the ball and he can shoot from distance if need be.
There’s no doubting Özil’s talent, because it was on show for everyone at the World Cup, but whether he actually signs for United is a different story. Yes, it is the most probable out of the two potential signings I’ve looked at, because I still think Benzema is a long shot, but nevertheless, both are players that United is apparently monitoring.
Those are just my thoughts though and I would love to hear what you all think. Are either of these players likely to sign for United during the remainder of the transfer window? Will they fit in at Old Trafford? Is there anyone else on United’s radar? Or are Manchester United content with their squad and need not sign anyone during the remainder of the transfer window?
Either way I’m sure you’re all as eager as I am for the kick off of the Premier League season and for the title race to begin all over again!
Thoughts? Opinions?
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