Manchester United have one of the most fearsome and yet the most dis-balanced side in the Premier League. While their attacking threat consists of players of the highest calibre including the likes of Wayne Rooney, Falcao, Di Maria, Robin van Persie and Juan Mata, their defenders are below par average. Although United have started doing well in the league in recent times, even their manager knows that with this defence it is hard for them to make a mark. Their wing back positions may have been sorted out with the likes of Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo, it is their centre back situation which needs to be sorted out. Apart from Phil Jones none of the current defenders are on form and the likes of Chris Smalling have been less than average. It has fell on youngsters like Blackett and Paddy Mcnair to step up and do the job.
Van Gaal needs to take a good look at the market and select for himself a few defensive options. Here we try and make his job easier and provide three defensive options for Manchester United that they may get in January.
Ron Vlaar:
The Dutch defender is currently plying his trade at Aston Villa and he has been one of the most trusted lieutenant of Manchester United manager Van Gaal. He has previously played under van Gaal in the Dutch national side and been a rock at the back. It was assumed that Vlaar would make a move to United last summer, but somehow the move fell through. But it is high time that United try and take up Vlaar for a fee which would not be too high.
Vlaar has prior experience of playing in the Premier League and thus he would be a perfect fit at United. The only factor that would worry United would be his age, which is 29 at the moment, but still Vlaar would be a very decent option for United next January.
Mats Hummels:
He is now one of the most sought after defender at the moment and it would be a huge step for van Gaal if he can convince Hummels to join United. Hummels is genuinely a top defender and it would not be an exaggeration to say that Hummels is perhaps the best defender at the moment in Europe. The 25 year old Borussia Dortmund player would solve all the problems at the back for United for years to come and would make their squad perfect. United can also afford to pay a huge sum of money for him which Dortmund would ask. But there can be just one obstacle in this transfer. Hummels’ love for Borussia Dortmund! If United can solve that, they would have a brilliant player at their disposal.
Raphael Varane:
Last time United grabbed di Maria from Real Madrid and the results are there for us to see. In January they can move for another Real player, Raphael Varane for their centre back position. The French youngster is highly rated at his club and country alike and he could serve them for a long time. It is rumoured that Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has his eyes set on him and thus United would face competition for him. But it is highly unlikely that Real would want to sell him and thus United have to convince them with a huge transfer fee.