So, Manchester United have finally signed a player. A long wait after the services of Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera were secured more than a month earlier, and quite possibly a knee-jerk reaction to their opening day home defeat at the hands of Swansea City. The name of Marcos Rojo was barely mentioned in and around Old Trafford for the last couple of months, but a successful World Cup campaign coupled with United’s inability to compete for marquee names like Mats Hummels in the absence of European football this campaign has opened the door for the Sporting Lisbon rebel to complete his ‘dream’ move to United. But, while Rojo would offer able competition for the LB position and fill in at the LCB position, is his signing merely enough for United to lock horns with the big boys this season? Let’s take a look at 3 signings that Louis van Gaal needs to make to make United genuine contenders for a Top 4 spot and beyond.
1. Arturo Vidal
While Juventus keep insisting that Arturo Vidal isn’t for sale, there is little doubt that the Bianconeri might be forced to sell if United break the bank for the Chilean midfielder. United have lacked a driving box-to-box midfielder of the Roy Keane mould since the Irishman parted ways, and with Louis van Gaal insisting they play with a 3-5-2 formation, Vidal would ease into the United line-up effortlessly. There are very few players in world football, if any, better than Vidal in his position – a true all-round midfielder who can offer as much offensively as defensively. Vidal scored 11 goals in 32 Serie A appearances for Juventus last season, guiding them to their third consecutive Scudetto.
Herrera adds a touch of calmness, intelligence and lungs in the middle of the park, but United the brawn and the muscle to compete with the League’s best. City have Yaya Toure, Chelsea have Matic, United must buy Vidal. With Michael Carrick in the sidelines, and Marouane Fellaini out of favor, United’s options in midfield are few and lack the quality that Vidal promises to add to the squad. A 3-5-2 wouldn’t work without someone like Vidal mopping up defensively as well as supporting the attack, which Fletcher and Herrera failed to do against Swansea, and much of United’s prospects this season rests on the capture of Vidal. United need a marquee signing in midfield, and more importantly, a bully. Vidal ticks all the right boxes.
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