Why Manchester United should sell Ashley Young and buy a new fullback
According to a report in the Sun, Italian club Inter Milan are preparing a two-year deal to sign Ashley Young on a free transfer. The San Siro outfit are monitoring the situation of the player, whose contract runs out at Old Trafford at the end of this season. He is currently earning £110,000-a-week.
Until now, Manchester United have failed to make the 33-year-old agree on a new contract and that means he can now talk to foreign clubs about a pre-contract. (Sun)
Inter are eager to sign the fullback in the summer if he doesn’t agree to new terms at Manchester in the foreseeable future (h/t Sun). Here’s why the Red Devils can let go of the England international and replace him with a young and dynamic fullback.
Ashley Young and future doesn’t match at the club
Young has had plenty of ups and downs in his Manchester United career, partly due to injury problems.
However, he has been a regular starter in various positions for the team, especially after the arrival of Jose Mourinho. The Englishman continues to keep his place under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer too.
The best thing about the 33-year-old is his versatility. He can put in a shift as a full-back on both sides and can play as an out and out winger if required.
For these reasons, he was selected for the England squad for the World Cup in Russia, as Gareth Southgate needed wing-backs in his system. Young is a perfect blend of a fullback and a winger.
All these things being said, the fact that the player is now 33 years old means a club of United’s stature cannot depend on him for the long term.
He probably has a year or two of high-intensity football left in him which is not good enough, especially since there will be a new manager in town after six months. It goes without saying that the new boss will be looking to change things and bring success back to the club in due course of time.
Hence, it would be perfect for United to keep Young for the second part of this season and let him go on a free transfer during the summer window. Buying a new dynamic full-back should be the plan.
