With the January transfer window now active, Manchester United must surely bolster its squad to stand any real chance of winning a record-breaking 19th title come May. While Sir Alex Ferguson is notoriously reluctant to risk spending big in January, United could look to home soil for the best solution and in some cases, good value too.
Defenders
West Ham United’s Matthew Upson has surpassed all expectations in recent years and now is truly integral to England’s World Cup hopes given Rio Ferdinand’s prolonged injury absence. Although it is unlikely United will move for the defender given his ripe old age – 30 – the former Arsenal would be an excellent recruit. Upson, hardly likely to settle for a place on the bench when Rio returns, is now the complete modern centre back who reads the game well – Potential fee: £15 million given West Ham’s financial crisis.
26 year-old Roger Johnson at Birmingham City has been nothing short of superb this season. The defender has managed the transition from Championship to Premier League with ease and is now in contention for an England call. Johnson, a traditional centre-back who deals with just about everything, is a key figure in Birmingham’s outstanding form this campaign – Potential fee: £15 million with Birmingham unlikely to want to part with their star defender.
Bolton Wanderers Gary Cahill has proven all the critics wrong since his move from Aston Villa 18 months ago. Cahill has progressed into a player everyone on the verge of the England squad, with a very bright future ahead. The defender is, without doubt, Bolton’s best player and given the club’s current managerless predicament Cahill would relish a move up to Old Trafford – Potential fee: £20 million has been mooted in the press.
Former United youth player Ryan Shawcross has flourished at Stoke City. Manager Tony Pullis has transformed the United academy player into the stalwart of Stoke’s defence, with the defender’s form attracting the attention of the Premier League’s biggest clubs – and Manchester City. Although Shawcross recently signed a new deal at Stoke, very few turn down the call from Sir Alex. Shawcross is a young centre half who United could mould into a great defender – Potential fee: £12 million, given that he is unlikely to turn down a return home.
Midfielders
Luka Modric at Tottenham Hotspur is the most talented footballer outside the top four and his rapid progression under Harry Rednapp makes the Croatian an ideal buy. Modric could be the creative edge United has lacked in recent months, although his small physical stature may entail a change in United’s tactical system – Potential fee: more than £15 million.
Arsenal’s Abou Diaby would provide the perfect remedy for United’s seemingly static central midfield. Diaby, who has recently signed a new contract at Arsenal, has become an increasingly influential and dynamic figure for the Gooners. A move is extremely unlikely, but could prove a masterstroke – Potential fee: at least £25 million.
Strikers
West Ham’s Carlton Cole is superb, on his day, with pace, strength and goals galore this season. This day, however, is not so easy to predict but Gianfranco Zola has moulded the player into a terrifying centre forward. A fantastic signing if United could retain the same intensity – Potential fee: £20 million with the Hammers desperate sellers.
Spurs’ Russian striker Roman Pavlyuchenko has not lived up to expectations since the player’s £16 million move from Spartak Moscow in 2008. But the 28-year old is a proven goalscorer and the type of traditional centre forward United really needs. Pavlyuchenko, who excelled at Euro 2009, has fallen behind Jermaine Defoe, Robbie Keane and Peter Crouch in the White Hart Lane pecking order. A quick fit, who would run to Old Trafford if the option was available, judge Pavlyuchenko not by his current predicament – Potential fee: As low as £5 million proving excellent value.
How would Luka Modric cost LESS than Abu Diaby?
He cost Spurs 16.5m and has certainly proven himself in the league. If Diaby is somehow worth 25m, then Modric would be well over 30.
Just can’t see any of this happening.
Upson – too old
Johnson – half season wonder
Cahill – Villa reject
Shawcross – United reject
Modric – If he’s so good why would Spurs sell
Diaby – Wenger unlikely to sell to rival
Cole – 20 mill!
Pavlyuchenko – this is the only one that would make sense and provide some value at 5 million.
The answer is stop rotating the team, play your best side unless there are injures or a real log jam of fixtures.
If you really wanted to buy, buy proven quality – Villa, Silva – their prices are guaranteed to go up after Spain win the world cup, so £40-50 total for both would be good value and could change our season.
modric for 15? you must be kidding yourself! the guy is worth at least 30 if all those players you mentioned are worth that much.hahaha 15 mil for spurs’ best player.harry will never well him anyway.
Dan,
get real! Where on earth do you get these valuations from? You state Luka Modric is the most talented player outside the top four (to correct you he is actually in the top four but outside of the so called ‘big four’). I agree with your rating of this player but think you are way off the mark at 15 mil, if Fergie manages to pull that one off then it will be the steal of the century! 30 mil.
Given you rate Modric at 15 mil how do you then rate Diaby at 25 mil?! 15 mil.
Upson 15 mil? (halve that)
Johnson 15 mil? (not for sale and not worth this) Risky 6 mil.
Cahill 20 mil? (doing well at Bolton but this is a ridiculous valuation, on par with Upson, maybe) 6-7 mil.
Shawcross 12 mil? (should have kept him as a cover player, would have been invaluable during the injury crisis Utd experienced this season. Not good enough for Utd regular first team action, yet! Great prospect to deputise and nuture for the future. 5-6 mil.
Cole 20 mil?! Not a chance!
Pav 5 mil? Valuation well out, Spurs may be tempted at 10 with bonuses for games played/goals scored or sell on fee but absolutely no less. Safe money though and most likely to perform with love of the club/supporters.
Agree with Bill, go for quality (Villa or Silva) invest in a creative midfielder which is where the heart of your team is. Utd always best playing creative attacking football from the midfield and wings, not the static wait and see game being played of late. Shame Fletcher had to cover in defence this season, far more effective in midfield and your best player (in correct position) so far this season.
a lot of those valuations have been mentioned in the press. obviously i have no idea what clubs actually would pay.
Birmingham signed Johnson for something near to 7million why would they then sell him for that? surely they would see a greater profit.
i think the Diaby valuation was a typo to be clear
Modric the lad hasn played first team football in months but im willing to accept i made a mistake with that. its just hard to imagine someone really paying 30 million for him
I have seen some aweful transfer articles in my day but this one is something else.
1. As if Modric would cost 15mill ish and Diaby would cost 25.
2. Why on earth would we want a player who is just breaking into the gunners team and offers as much creative flair ar Michael Carrick.
3. Why are there only 2 midfielders in the list where it is the one area we need bostering. No Silva, Hamsik, etc.
4. Carlton Cole……….need I say more
I think the article was about targets within the Premier League, hence no Silva or Hamsik
Noted, interestingly the according to reports JS Veron just turned down City! He sighted family reasons primarily, which is a breath of fresh air. If Veron was in his mid 20s now he is the kind player should be signing. It was a pity he moved to united when Scholes was in his prime, two playmakers in midfield just didn’t work. I still think he’s a quality player.
diaby is awful furthermore modric isno better than fletcher or carrick, obertan is blossoming so no need for anymore midfielders. The idea of signing shawcross would go against fergies policy, roger johnson is also far too inexperienced. Please Dan ronnie johnson was the only johnson good enough for united Pavyluchenko would be an awful acquisiton, we need to send welbeck on loanand he will come back stronger and perhapos be the next dwight yorke or andrew cole. Where did our valuation of shawcross come from because it seems a bit steep.
Pavlyuchenko? Do we really need another Berbatov?