Manchester United’s loss to Swansea on opening day proved that the club are in dire need of extra reinforcements. With less than two weeks left until the close of the transfer window, Louis van Gaal may need to stray away from his big money targets and make appropriate moves for more realistic candidates.
After a summer-long attempt to lure both Arturo Vidal and Mats Hummels to United, it looks highly unlikely that the deal will go through, leaving the Red Devils very exposed at the back. It seems that replacing both Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic in one window is even harder than first expected.
So, with that in mind, here are FIVE POSSIBLE defensive candidates to shore up Manchester United.
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CLICK ON NIGEL DE JONG TO SEE THE FULL LIST
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Daley Blind
Name: Daley Blind
Age: 24
Position: Defensive Midfield / Centre back / Left Wing Back
Nationality: Netherlands
Club: Ajax
Price: £12 - £15 million
If Louis van Gaal decides to sign one player, he would definitely pick Daley Blind because he can play in all the positions Manchester United are currently lacking. He can serve as a holding midfielder or a central defender, and even as a left wing back to complete the desired 3-5-2 formation.
Having already worked under Van Gaal at the World Cup for the Dutch national squad, he will already be used to the formation, the strategy, and also the mentality the United manager is after. A move could still be a possibility should his £15 million asking price be met.
Daniel Agger
Name: Daniel Agger
Age: 29
Position: Centre Back
Nationality: Denmark
Club: Liverpool
Price: £10 - £15 million
This potential could come down to the final day mainly because Manchester United may want to keep things quiet over signing a Liverpool player. Daniel Agger has had his ups and downs at Anfield throughout the years, but with the recent addition of Dejan Lovren, it is highly unlikely that he can retain his first team place this season.
Louis van Gaal could face a similar problem to when Arsene Wenger refused to sell Thomas Vermaelen to United, opting to let his former captain join Barcelona instead. With a number of clubs outside England interested in his services, the Red Devils need to prepare a well-though offer.
Alex Song
Name: Alex Song
Age: 26
Position: Defensive Midfield
Nationality: Cameroon
Club: Barcelona
Price: £8 - £12 million
Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has revealed that he doesn’t see Alex Song fitting into his plans for the upcoming season meaning Manchester United can snap him up for a cut-price deal. With very limited playing time, a switch to Old Trafford could see him easily return to a place in the starting 11.
The chase for Arturo Vidal is beginning to frustrate the fans and Louis van Gaal may need to consider the Cameroonian star as an alternative. He was in sensational form for Arsenal before his Barcelona move, so a return to Premier League football would surely benefit him.
Philippe Mexes
Name: Philippe Mexes
Age: 32
Position: Centre Back
Nationality: France
Club: AC Milan
Price: £3 - £5 million
The match against Swansea saw Manchester United without any experienced senior players in the back line which saw them exposed defensively time and time again. Both of the goals they lost could have easily been avoided.
Targeting Philippe Mexes is not completely out of the question because it could give some short-term stability into the United defence as the club search for a long-term addition. Louis van Gaal could use the final week to secure his move in order to have a back up to his already limited pool of centre backs.
Nigel de Jong
Name: Nigel de Jong
Age: 29
Position: Defensive Midfield
Nationality: Netherlands
Club: AC Milan
Price: £6 - £10 million
Nigel de Jong is another strong candidate that can step in and hopefully reproduce his national team form while playing under Louis van Gaal. The AC Milan enforcer is someone that can greatly influence the team’s defensive capabilities as well as make the important, more risky challenges.
Having had Premier League experience with Manchester City, he may not need another attempt of adapting to the English game. In addition, if Van Gaal deploys his 3-5-2 formation, De Jong will know exactly what role he plays and how to fully execute his duties.