Classy Dutchman could finally be on his way to the Premier League.
Manchester United want to sign Galatasaray’s Dutch midfield maestro Wesley Sneijder when the transfer window reopens in January, according to The Daily Express.
The UK newspaper reports that the Premier League champions are happy to offer both Nani and Antonio Valencia in exchange for the midfielder, who in 2010, was regarded as one of the top players in world football.
Read more Manchester United transfer news.
Here’s what Sneijder could bring to United if David Moyes managed to pull off the transfer:
The potential lineup:
Sneijder could come straight into United’s midfield, in place of the ageing Ryan Giggs or the overrated Tom Cleverley. Either Phil Jones, Michael Carrick or Marouane Fellaini could play the holding role alongside him, allowing the Dutchman to get forward and link up with United’s brilliant forwards.
What Sneijder would bring to the side:
Ultimately Sneijder’s ability to create from deep is better than anything United have at their disposal. While Carrick can sit deep and tick play over, he doesn’t have the creative, expert attacking vision of the lauded Dutchman.
Sneijder is also a dead-ball specialist, and while United have those in abundance already, it would allow both Rooney and Robin Van Persie to stay in the box and attack the ball – rather than taking set-pieces themselves.
Sneijder’s form:
The 29-year-old has been especially good this season. In just nine starts, he’s scored five goals, including one in the Champions League. He has never been a particularly quick or mobile footballer anyway, so his age doesn’t really matter in this respect, much like it doesn’t with Xabi Alonso or Andrea Pirlo. Sneijder’s passing has been especially pleasing, too. He’s completed 87% of them, and also made 2.4 key passes per match.
The Dutchman was quoted by the Express as saying: “I’m going nowhere; you’re going to keep seeing me in a red and yellow shirt.”
While the lure of big money and new horizons can tempt virtually any professional, Galatasaray do not have space for another foreign born player in their squad – let alone both Nani and Valencia – and regardless, the ageing Sneijder may not be dynamic enough for the Premier League.
COMMENTS