Pranav Nair
Manchester United could finally land Thiago Alcantara
According to the Express, Manchester United could finally be closing in on signing Thiago Alcantara.
Compared to United legend Paul Scholes, the Spaniard was heavily linked with us back in 2013. Seven years on, we appear to be closing in on making it a reality.
Then manager David Moyes was not convinced by the midfielder and instead chose to sign Marouane Fellaini. Thiago has since made a mockery of the decision as he continues to play a starring role at Bayern Munich.
The 29-year-old has won the Bundesliga in each of the seven seasons he has spent at the Allianz Arena. He has since made 231 appearances and has scored 31 goals and assisted 37. (h/t Transfermarkt)
He has the required skills
An incredible passer of the ball, the Spaniard can make pinpoint deliveries with minimal fuss. He also has an eye for goal and has shown that on numerous occasions. In short, he represents everything that made United fans fall in love with Scholes.
The club tried to replace the former number 18 with the likes of Tom Cleverly and Anderson, but neither was able to.
We are not the only team keen on the player. According to the report, arch-rivals Liverpool are seen as the frontrunners for his signature.
Having just been crowned Premier League champions, they will prove to be formidable adversaries in the transfer market. The Merseysiders have a rather unimaginative midfield. Adding Thiago to the mix will change that. We cannot let that happen.
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A key issue concerning the signing is the player’s injury history. He has suffered 26 injuries and has missed 128 games. He only returned to action at the start of the month after suffering a groin injury, his second of the season.
There is no doubt that his fitness remains a concern. Also given his age, he is unlikely to be a long-term solution.
Thiago’s contract expires next summer and we could potentially grab a world-class player for a reduced price. Having already seen what someone with similar traits can do, we should not let the opportunity pass.
