97.5% pass success, 81 passes – Man United would do a brilliant job by signing this Celtic star who dominated Iceland

Why Manchester United should sign Celtic star Dedryck Boyata

As per a report from Daily Record, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was in the stands when Belgium beat Iceland 2-0 in the UEFA Nations League this past week.

The Portuguese was taking a close look Tottenham centre-back Toby Alderweireld. However, it was Celtic stopper Dedryck Boyata who stole the show that night and played with poise against the Icelanders.

The latter bolstered his place in the national team with a performance that would surely attract the watchful eyes of manager Roberto Martinez. The 27-year-old had a pass completion rate of 97.5%, making 81 successful passes in the game – the most by any Belgian that night. Mourinho would have been mightily impressed with that. (Daily Record)

This is Boyata’s last year in contract with the Hoops, meaning he would be a free agent at the end of this season, or would be available for a cut-price deal in January. (Daily Record)

Hence, there is a chance for clubs to get the Belgian before next summer and Manchester United should put an offer for him on the table. Here’s why:

Man United’s need of quality at the back

Manchester United has been a train-wreck at the back this season, in contradiction to how Mourinho’s team are usually. They have already conceded 21 goals in 12 league games, as opposed to last year where they shipped in just 28 all season.

Therefore, it is understandable that the back-four is under scrutiny for such an underperforming display so far. The way they conceded the three goals against city rivals was alarming, to say the least.

The pair of Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof is quality on its day, but the duo has too many off games to really trust them for long-term. Eric Bailly is nowhere near the quality required, while Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones remain on the fringe. Hence, it goes without saying that the Red Devils would do well to sign a new centre-back in January.

And Boyata can be a viable option given his authoritative presence at the back and good reading abilities of the game. He is physically strong and aerially very good, something a Mourinho-type centre-back should have in his game. If fit, the 27-year-old is pretty good, secure and commanding.

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United should make a bid for him in the winter window, partly because the deal can be done on a cut-price and predominantly due to the fact that the centre-back is a prodigious player.