Manchester United need their own version of Virgil van Dijk in defence, says former Red Devils midfielder Darren Fletcher.
In the summer, United boss Jose Mourinho was reported to have been after a new centre-back but ended the transfer window without signing one.
Do Manchester United need their own Virgil van Dijk? Five key stats and facts
- Jose Mourinho was public about trying to bring in a new centre-back in the summer.
- Phil Jones’ own-goal led to Manchester United’s 2-1 Champions League defeat to Valencia.
- Manchester United were heavily linked with Leicester and England defender Harry Maguire during the World Cup along with Toby Alderweireld and Jerom Boateng.
- This week, former United striker Dimitar Berbatov urged the club to sign Maguire.
- Since the start of his first full season at Liverpool, Virgil van Dijk has only conceded six Premier League goals, 20 fewer than United.
Liverpool paid £75 million to sign Van Dijk from Southampton last January and the Netherlands international has already been described as the club’s best defender of the Premier League era.
Fletcher, a former midfielder who won five Premier League titles and three Community Shields along with the Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup and Fifa Club World Cup for United, has admitted how impressed with the addition of Van Dijk to Liverpool’s defence on BBC Radio 5 Live.
While commentating on United’s 2-1 Champions League defeat to Valencia in midweek, Fletcher said: “There is no doubt that some of these Manchester United defenders are capable but they need that figurehead, that leader who could guide them.
“A top-class centre-back like Virgil van Dijk has accelerated the progress of players at Liverpool.
“When he’s not there they look questionable and that’s the difference that one top centre-back can have.”
What about Manchester United’s current centre-backs?
Could that “difference” maker Fletcher refers to be Kalidou Koulibaly of Napoli? The centre-back has been in the spotlight for a number of years now, especially when now-Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri was in charge at Napoli.
This season, the 27-year-old boasts a record of 22 interceptions, 23 total blocks and 20 tackles won after 15 Serie A games. He is also impressive on the ball, having completed 949 passes, more than any other Serie A defender. United are considering breaking their transfer record with a bid for Koulibaly in January, according to the Evening Standard, who say Alessio Romagnoli, Toby Alderweireld and Milan Skriniar are also targets.
But whoever the club sign next month will need a defensive partner. Manchester United fans have been screaming for Eric Bailly to start more in central defence. And although his four Premier League starts this season suggests it is unlikely he will become their equivalent to Van Dijk any time soon, this won’t stop United fans from sharing how they feel about the 24-year-old who was one of Mourinho’s first signings upon arrival at Old Trafford in 2016.
Eric Bailly is our best defender and should be playing every single match. Watching him battle on the pitch makes me, as a fan, so happy. That’s what we want from our players – to show it means something and he epitomises that, alongside Rojo too who also has that heart.
— The Man Utd Way (@TheManUtdWay) December 5, 2018
Bailly has also been linked to a move to Manchester United’s top-four rivals Arsenal today. Should this come about, it would only increase the need for an addition in central defence. Marcos Rojo has only made one Premier League start this season due to injury, while United’s most common centre-back partnership in this Premier League season has been Chris Smalling (13 starts) and Victor Lindelof (11 starts).
The club will have a chance to see Van Dijk close up this weekend as they are hosted by arch-rivals Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday.
The post Man Utd urged to sign their own Virgil van Dijk appeared first on Squawka News.
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