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Forget It Mourinho – Why Manchester United Are Better off Without This Premier League Defender

 Jose Fonte

Rumours are strife that after a failed attempt to bring Jose Fonte to Old Trafford from Southampton in the summer, Jose Mourinho is again trying to sign his compatriot in January.

Jose Fonte, whose contract is set to expire in 2018, played a crucial role in the Euros for champions Portugal earlier in the year and has continued to have the same impact for his club this term. Along with Virgil van Dijk, he has formed one of the most solid centre-back partnerships in the Premier League this season. On the backs of his performance alongside the Dutchman, Southampton have managed to keep 5 clean sheets so far this season, second only to Chelsea who have 7 shut-outs.

The 32-year old Portuguese has made 13 tackles at a success rate of 42% and has made 24 interceptions, 67 clearances and 6 blocks in 12 games in the Premier League.

Manchester United, under Mourinho, seems to have hit a dead end of sorts. At 6th position in the league, the title race seems to be already over for them. While there have been improvements, their lack of clinical finishing has let them down poorly this term.

Apart from the wastefulness, United have been hampered by regular injuries to key players, especially in the defensive areas. They have been without Eric Bailly for close to two months, Chris Smalling has also missed games due to injuries and Phil Jones, having been out for a very long time has just started to get a run in the side.

So, a link with one of the league’s experienced and better centre-halves this season is natural. But should United go through with an offer for Fonte?

No. While it might make sense that having a senior centre-back leading the team out might benefit the Red Devils, but do they really need another centre-half, who is 32 and playing out a last few seasons at the topmost level, at this stage?

Eric Bailly, until he got injured, looked one of the best signings of the season. He was strong in challenges, he read the game well and possessed a decent turn of pace as well. His unerring displays at the back were a delight to watch for a United fan. And now that he has almost completed his recovery and started training with the first team, he should return the playing Xi soon enough.

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Chris Smalling emerged as United’s leader in defence under Louis Van Gaal last season and his impressive performances saw him earning the captain’s armband in the absence of club captain Wayne Rooney. And Mourinho too has entrusted the Englishman with the responsibility of leading the side when Rooney is unavailable. And so far, Smalling has managed to repay the faith shown in him by his managers. His growth as a squad player to a leader has been admirable, to say the least. One bad game against Chelsea does not make him a poor defender.

After a series of injuries, Phil Jones is finally getting a regular run in the playing XI and he has looked the player that was once tipped to replace legendary Nemanja Vidic. In the few games that he has featured over the past month, he has looked composed and solid at the back. What has been most impressive is the confidence with which he carries the ball out of the defence. He has looked comfortable, is looking fit and up for the challenge.

And then United also have their utility men Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind. Both adept at playing at the centre or on the left of the backline, they have put on a solid show so far this season.

Blind, who started the season as Eric Bailly’s partner in defence may not be the natural option, but he more than makes up for it with his intelligence. And Marcos Rojo finally seems like he’s turning into a player Mourinho and United can trust. He has been very assured at the back, in the absence of Smalling and has definitely looked the part.

And throw into the mix a young Axel Tuanzebe, who continues to shine for the United reserves’ side week in week out. At the beginning of the season, Jose had pointed out Tuanzebe as the one to watch out for and had heaped generous praise on the Congolese defender.

“You can play 90 minutes or 1 minute. Sometimes 1 minute is enough.

“With Axel, ten minutes is enough! The potential is there, you see it immediately,” the boss had said during pre-season.

Bailly will soon be ready for action again, Smalling is expected to be ready for the weekend’s fixture against Everton, Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo are finally proving their worth to the side and then there is Daley Blind who is always ready to anything required by the team. And in Tuanzebe, United have a talented youngster waiting on the wings for his opportunity to shine on the big stage.

With so many options, all talented, all international-level players, do United really need to bring Fonte in? Fonte, a 32-year old, with very few years of top level football left in him, is not the way to go for United right now. Instead, they just need to look at the talent available in their squad, they need to trust in the players they already have at their disposal, show faith in them, develop them into the players that they can be at their fullest. After all, isn’t that the United way?