Are United wise to shell out huge fee on unproven star?
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Manchester United have all but wrapped up a deal for Ander Herrera to move to Old Trafford this summer for a whopping £28.7m fee.
Herrera is uncapped, and anything but a household name, and despite being an impressive technical midfielder, many will be wondering just why Louis van Gaal agreed to shell out such a fee when there are far better available alternatives.
4) Cesc Fabregas – Chelsea
Chelsea signed Fabregas for £27m this summer – which is slightly less than they’re about to shell out for Herrera. Fabregas has Premier League experience with Arsenal, has won 89 caps for Spain at the age of 27, won the World Cup, La Liga, the FA Cup and two European Championships.
Herrera has never won anything, and has far less experience and pedigree than his fellow Spaniard. Perhaps United did try to sign Fabregas and were just beaten to his signature, but it will surely be a bitter pill to swallow if they can only sign Herrera instead.
3) Toni Kroos – Bayern Munich
Due to his contract situation, Kroos is available for a bargain £15m, and United would be able to afford any of his extravagant contract demands.
Chelsea also want the German, but United would be crazy to let the superb playmaker join their rivals without a fight. Kroos is arguably the best passer of the football right now in the whole of Europe – and his ability to retain possession while also create chances would be greatly appreciate by the Old Trafford support.
2) Jordy Clasie – Feyenoord
Clasie could arrive along with excellent Feyenoord centre-back Bruno Martins Indi – for a fee around £30m. In this respect, United could have killed two birds with one stone, but instead have decided to stump up £28.7m on Herrera alone. Clasie can pass and create, while Martins Indi is phenomenally strong. It could prove that LVG still moves for the young Dutch pair, of course.
1) Kevin Strootman – AS Roma
The Dutchman is currently injured, which is the reason he isn’t at the World Cup, but Louis van Gaal is known to rate him extremely highly. Physically, he’s far more impressive than Herrera, which makes him more suited to the Premier League. Far from being just a powerhouse though, Strootman can drive through the middle with the ball at his feet, and create chances thanks to impressive vision. It’s possible though that he’ll be signed in January once he proves his fitness.
