Louis Van Gaal Lining Up Netherlands International As Competition For New £27m Signing

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The new manager wants Blind as an alternative to Evra.

With Patrice Evra set to join Juventus, new Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is lining up Ajax and Netherlands left-back Daley Blind as an alternative, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Despite having only recently signed a one-year contract extension at Old Trafford, Evra is understood to be keen on a move to Turin and the Red Devils are now resigned to losing their veteran Frenchman.

United have only recently sealed a £27m deal for Luke Shaw, who joined from Southampton as a long-term replacement for the 33-year-old on the left side of defence.

However, van Gaal was hoping Evra would help ease the transition for the England international and at 18-years-old doesn’t want to put too much pressure on the teenager.

That is why the Dutchman wants support for Shaw and having worked with Blind for two years as part of the national team, the 62-year-old knows the Ajax star has what it takes.

Not only that but the 24-year-old offers great versatility and therefore could act as cover in a number of positions for United.

Blind generally operates at left-back, but can also play as a wing back, as part of a three-man central defence, or even in midfield – a position in which he was named Dutch player of the year in 2013/14.

With van Gaal liking to adopt a variety of different formations this versatility is extremely useful.

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