Manchester United have a couple of players on offer this summer who could be ideally equipped and positioned to slip straight into the Irons squad.
We understand that boss Jose Mourinho is ready to allow Dutch midfielder Daley Blind (above right), 28, out of Old Trafford and with his ability to play at central defence and left back he could be an ideal candidate for a move to the London Stadium.
United are ready to listen to offer for both players although Jose Mourinho isn’t sure whether he convince them to remain at the club.
United extended Blind’s contract by a year in February in order to prevent the player leaving on a free transfer in the summer.
Blind is essentially a midfielder for Holland but has shown his ability to slot into central defence and on the
left side of the back line at United.
He now has just under 12 months left on his deal and United have an asking price of about £8 million on his head with personal terms likely to cost the Hammers around £70k should they move for him.
Meanwhile Matteo Darmian (bottom right) could become the answer to the Irons issues at right back where they need strong back up and competition for Pablo Zabaeta.
He too has 12 months left but United will want around the £14m they paid to Torino in 2014 and although Juventus are keen to take him him they are only willing to pay £7 million for the 28 year old.
The United boss says both Blind and Darmian are “part of my plans”, but admits the decision may not be down to him.
He said: “When a player wants to go, if that’s the case, when the right offers arrive in the club we study that because we always try to have the players happy.
They might look ideal but would they come to us ? They have hardly set the World alight at Man U, Blind only got games because of Van Gaal. It will be interesting to see who is manager next season, Moyes is looking highly doubtful now and the players seem to be treating him like that judging by their performances.
Blind was a star at Ajax, and an important layer on the Dutch squad. Looked good when he arrived at Manure both then sank. He would be a good addition because he can play in different positions. Same for Darmian, who was wanted by several teams in Italy. He can play left or right back. Decent player and certainly much better than Byram.
That said, we still need to get the keeper position sorted out. Yoel, Moya ? Kepa? Horn ? Perin ? Alban Lafon ?
And watch Dendoncker sign now for a relevant team such as Atletico Madrid. We really really missed out on that one. Take the funds spent on Huggill, plus the leftovers from the sales of Fonte and Ayew, and there you had the cash to get Dendoncker.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q341-Mm1tEo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q341-Mm1tEo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew6-gjWw0bw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5hDFosir84
Maybe we should ask parks what he thinks of them….
Blind and Damian good choices providing we are still in the EPL and assuming they would be happy for a move to London.
Adrian is still good enough to be our first choice GK, so we needn’t spend a fortune on a big name custodian-a quality GK from the Championship plus young Nathan Trott would suffice.
We need a lot more players for the first team, but I suspect that we will not have the necessary transfer kitty-my partial solution is to draft some of our best U-23’s into the first team squad.
While I am aware of the likely candidates should Moyes leave or sacked, I really would like to see our team play ‘total football’. I have a ‘dark horse’ suggestion which I’m sure will attract tons of abuse (lol). Not sure that Frankie De Boer got enough time at Palace, and the team had no idea of how to play 3–4-3; in fairness, most managers should be given 6 months to settle in adjust to their new club/players.
Any guy who could take the great Ajax to 4 successive Eredivisie titles (plus success in Europe) must have something going for him- I realize that Dutch football is not comparable with the EPL, but Ajax is Ajax, even when they are ‘struggling’ (ie 2nd or 3rd)
Thomas Tuchel would be great but rumors suggest he may be off to Arsenal