Manchester United should sign Ashley Young or David Silva, not Antonio Valencia
£80 million is a lot of money; the debate goes on over whether the world player of the year is worth it. In the meantime Manchester United has to find someone to replace a midfielder who gets around 30 goals a season. A tough ask for any manager, but the good news that comes with this is that Manchester United can now afford any player in the world. Here we look at the candidates who can fill those boots:
Karim Benzema – The Lyon and France striker has long been rumoured with a move to Manchester United. Could this be the year he moves? Last season Benzema notched up 23 goals in 47 games and the season before 31 goals in 52 games. An unproven striker on the big stage with only 6 goals for France but is he worth the punt? The striker is obviously held in high regard with Alex Ferguson but would he be prepared to spend approximately £30 million on a striker who could be a hit or miss signing so soon after over spending on Berbatov?
Ability to replace Ronaldo Rating: 6
Chase or Avoid? Avoid
Ashley Young – The Aston Villa and England winger was touted as a world beater early on in 2009 after performing so well in Villa’s chase for the Champions League places. Towards the end of the season he did start to fizzle out and looked tired. After recently breaking into the England squad Alex Ferguson would be a fool not to look at him as a possible replacement. He has the same sort of ability to go past a defender and can pull out a trick or two if needed. He may not be as prolific in front of goal as Ronaldo but his ability to create chances would replace that.
Ability to replace Ronaldo Rating: 8
Chase or Avoid? Chase
Wesley Sneijder – The 25 year old only joined Real Madrid in 2007 and impressed during the European Championships. With Aren Robben and Cristiano Ronaldo likely to be at Real Madrid next season competing for places, will the Holland international look for regular football elsewhere? Sneijder has the potential to score 20 goals a season even if he has yet produced that sort of form. However, he is soon to reach his peak and Real Madrid would want to get some high earners off the wage bill to cope with Ronaldo’s demands. United are unlikely though to want to exchange high amounts of money over a Sneijder deal as it would technically devalue the £80 million they got for Ronaldo in the first place, and this would cause a stumbling block.
Ability to replace Ronaldo Rating: 7
Chase or Avoid? Avoid
Antonio Valencia – The Wigan midfielder has reportedly been the subject of a £16 million bid from Manchester United already. The Ecuadorian midfielder is a favourite of Fergie’s, with the Wigan Chairman claiming that the United Manager has had someone watch him during every game this season. The player is tried and tested at Premiership level and looks like he could comfortably step up to the Champions League. But with only 7 goals since 2006 at Wigan, could he replace Ronaldo’s presence as a goal scoring threat on the pitch? A player Manchester United should look to sign up but can he really be considered a serious replacement for Ronaldo?
Ability to replace Ronaldo Rating: 5
Chase or Avoid? Avoid
David Silva – The Valencia winger is in the midst of a transfer scramble as the Spanish team look to sell its prize assets to stay afloat. After winning the European Championships with Spain in 2008, Silva has continued this form last season, even after missing the first few months due to ankle problems. What David Silva lacks in height he makes up in his ability on the ball. The 5ft 7in player knows how to get past any defender and can create spaces on the pitch for others to run into. Like Antonio Valencia he lacks the goal scoring ability to replace Ronaldo, but unlike Valencia he has the ability to be considered a goal scoring presence on the pitch. Untried in the Premiership and by many considered to be too light weight, could be the factors that turn Fergie to other targets. Nevertheless, with Valencia looking sell and Silva’s reputation, and ability to grow at just 23 years of age, could he be worth taking a gamble on?
Ability to replace Ronaldo Rating: 7
Chase or Avoid? Chase
In the end nobody can replace Ronaldo, he is one in a million. Unless Fergie can find another teenager to nurture, it is unlikely anyone will have the ability to fully replace Ronaldo.
Other players not mentioned here, that could be possible replacements are: Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and Sergio Agüero. All three share the same potential to fill the void left by Ronaldo, but are otherwise unavailable, or too set in their ways to offer something different for Fergie. Ultimately it’s down to Sir Alex Ferguson and he will most likely surprise us on who he does end up signing.
Topics: English Premier League, Football Transfers, Manchester United
Football News 24/7
Good anlysis, I think you underestimate Wesley Sneider a little bit, he is best candidate to replace Ronaldo in my eyes. Very aggressive striker/midfielder.
June 15th, 2009 @ 09:38Nice write up. But personally I’d prefer to have someone like Benzema and Silva in the team. Benzema for all his aerial ability is someone Fergie should be looking for..
Valencia is just not the guy who could fit the United Bill.
June 15th, 2009 @ 10:18I dont think its a good analysis at all. You cant compare Ronaldo to Benzema or Sneijder. Ronaldo a winger, Benzema a striker and Sneijder a central midfielder. To Young and Silva i get, and this whole Valencia deal still confuses the hell out of me. As zidane recently said, United may end up a better shaped team, and i agree. The question isnt who to replace Ronaldo with but rather how to reshape the team after hes gone and for me that would be a combination of a winger, a creative midfielder and a striker.
June 15th, 2009 @ 10:57You missed the best player of the lot…Alexis Sanchez
June 15th, 2009 @ 11:14sign messi for 90 milion pound..
June 15th, 2009 @ 12:04huntlaar for 15 milion pound..
end of story..
OK, Ashley Young is a good player as is Antonio Valencia but we already have to many players of his calibre at united – good players but not match winners. Alexis Sanchez, Ribery, Villa – these are the kind of players we need if we are going to compete at the top. I also hope we sign Douglas Costa.
June 15th, 2009 @ 12:57offer 60m or so to valencia for silva and villa.real or barca havent agreed deals with the club for either player so we are still in with a shout.if we cant get silva,i would have no problem in taking sneijder from real.hes a real quality player,and is a big threat from dead ball situations
June 15th, 2009 @ 13:27i think that sir should get a better player that will replace C. Ronaldo since he choose to go Real Madrid. if Ashley, David Silva or Anotonio Valencia is to come to manchester united please to make the right choice. in my own view i think Eto is better. Thanks for unitedbabe 4 real
June 15th, 2009 @ 14:57great write up but my opinion on this is that Man Utd dont buy stars we create them.
That is why i think we should get Douglas Costa!
June 15th, 2009 @ 15:01“sign messi for 90 milion pound..
huntlaar for 15 milion pound..
end of story..”
What a load of crap Arleef, even with these two, there’s no guarantee that they would fit in at United plus Barca will NEVER sell Messi, no matter for however much money because they simply don’t NEED it, Huntelaars been rubbish at Madrid, not even being able to break into the crappy first team which has lost game after game in the run in.
June 15th, 2009 @ 15:43Gonzalo Higuain, David Villa & David Silva
All 3 for 80-100 million, Higuain and Silva can both play up front or on the wing, Villa guarentees you 30+ goals a season … problem solved!!
June 15th, 2009 @ 16:23I’m still not sold on Valencia but Fergie usually doesn’t get these things wrong. I’ve been hoping for Benzema to come through for the past two seasons but I was just wondering how you rate Sneijder higher than Benzema with Benzema’s scoring record (his record for France I think should have an asterisk next to as he plays for that fool Domenech).
You mention Benzema’s 23 and 31 goal seasons and then only mention that Sneijder looks like he can do the same even though he hasn’t yet and somehow he’s a better option than Benzema (even if you eventually marked them both as options to avoid).
Ashley Young would be a nice option and he’s proven in the EPL but Silva might have some problems early on.
A one Alexis Sanchez has apparently been on Fergie’s radar and I think he needs to go in for him NOW.
June 15th, 2009 @ 16:44Sneijder for Holland at Euro 2008 was impressive, but Sneijder this season was very much a letdown. Don’t get me wrong, I like the guy, but A is right – Sneijder is chiefly a creative central midfielder, not a striker or a winger (we’ve tried him on the wing, with not exactly the best results). Could I see him at United… maybe, but not as a direct replacement for Ronaldo. Which then begs the question: what’s the point?
bobmagee, obviously you haven’t been following the late season developments at Real Madrid. Huntelaar did not “not break into the first team”; rather, he was simply not given a chance as it would have meant benching Raul. All this talk of Galacticos and big egos, and you know what, the only player we still can’t bench is a homegrown one, who wasn’t even producing the goods (besides that hat-trick at Sevilla). Secondly, good service from midfield was very intermittent throughout the entire season. Huntelaar is the kind of player who can finish but needs consistent service. He averaged one goal every 146 minutes for Real Madrid, which is a very decent return. (Compare Raul, one every 173 minutes in La Liga, and Higuain, one every 126 minutes – including three penalties. Take away the pens and you get a goal from open play every 146 minutes for Higuain too.)
June 15th, 2009 @ 17:10Don’t worry madridista, BobMagee is always carrying on. Always knows best…maybe he should play for united. Twat. Barca will never sell Messi though, But the Huntelaar idea is intriguing.
June 15th, 2009 @ 17:23‘I was just wondering how you rate Sneijder higher than Benzema with Benzema’s scoring record’
In my view Benzema will become a great player one day, but these ratings were decided on their current ability, at the minute Benzema has yet to prove himself on the big stage. Even if France aren’t performing under Domenech it doesn’t mean he’d have performed any better if the team was in a better situation. Benzema has a fantastic record at domestic level, but you can’t really compare his French league record to how he will perform in the Premiership. Just as you can’t compare the Premiership records to how well a player will do in La Liga. As proven with Diego Forlan.
Sneijder on the other hand has proven himself on the big stage, as can be seen from his performances at Euro 2008. Thus he has a higher rating due to this.
June 15th, 2009 @ 18:34James Milner?
Aiden McGeady?
David Bentley?
June 15th, 2009 @ 18:42So you rate Ashley the highest of the lot? That’s a laugh and a half. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a good player and all, but good enough to replace Ronaldo? Higher rated than the others on that list? I honestly don’t think so. Like 3 (the third commentor) stated, united shouldn’t JUST be looking for a direct replacement for ronaldo but for players to shape into a better team and not just rotate around one player. From the looks of it they’re going to be losing quite a number of key players this summer; Tevez to Liverpool or City, Evra to Real, Vidic to Barca, Nani back to Sporting (though in return for moutinho i wouldnt see it as too bad a thing). Then there’s the old timers currently winding down their careers – Giggs, Scholes, Neville, Van der Sar.
June 15th, 2009 @ 18:43i prefere siliver than young
June 15th, 2009 @ 20:03Honestly i think Fergie knows wat his doing, he had a plan long before he accepted the real madrid bid and like 3 i think his gonna reshape the squad rather than try and find a replacement 4 my fellow countryman Ronaldo, (which doesnt exist)… i like the idea of Silva or sneijder coming in, they’d be exactly wat we need in midfield and with Fergie he’d get the best out of them, i also wouldnt mind benzima as a replacement 4 Teves but i prefer huntelaar coz i think his more of an out and out scorer… A.Young is an excellent player but honestly i dnt see him fitting in at united, i find him a lil inconsistent at times, his not the kind of player that would step up wen we’d really need him to but i dnt no i might be wrong and he’d do great at united but i dnt see him being a hit. Messi will never happen…i think Villa is basically a Real player already and who the hell is alexis sanchez and douglas costa? seriously? overall the only player that could maybe make the kind of impact and united that ronaldo did is Ribery, he is the closest replacement to ronaldo in the world that i can kind of in my opinion…but if you look at it united have a few up and coming player already, i think nani needs more playing time to show wat he can do coz i think he has wat it takes to become a great player even at united still and lets see wat this new guy Tosic does, Macheda looks a really good prospect and anderson is brilliant already at his age along with fabio and rafael so im not to worried about united as long as we sign 2 or 3 players to get over ronaldo with but honestly this valencia deal is really worrying me! wat do pple see in him? i mean sure his had his moments but his nothing of the caliber that united have. valencia is a small team player. he’ll do great in small teams but bring him to a big side and his gonna flop, besides 7goals is a joke! even nani would do a better job in wigan than valencia did so please not valencia!
June 16th, 2009 @ 00:04I agree with A. It’s not about replacing Ronaldo but bringing the team on without him. Benzema, who I rate highly, would be a replacement for Tevez and a striker who could possibly forge a great partnership with Rooney.
Silva provides left sided/ midfield options and Schneider would be a good option to strengthen midfield (with the Hargreaves issue).
Valencia, because he is an orthodox right winger and Utd now have a definite gap in that area. I rate him from what I’ve seen of Wigan. Yes, he’s no superstar at this stage but his price reflects this and is worth the gamble.
June 16th, 2009 @ 00:47KenAdams you must also be a “twat” if you agree that Messi won’t be moving, or at least half a twat
June 16th, 2009 @ 01:14Well, im telling u if manutd dont buy any of the players mentioned above, they are DOOMED! I can’t see manu buying benzema, he says he wants to stay at lyon. I don’t think manu will buy silva, not that they don’t want to, real madrid will get it first.
June 16th, 2009 @ 01:19The thing about Benzema is that he doesn’t even want to come to United, I’d like to see him here but he’d end up moving on in a while anyway, I like Sneidjer but he has been poor recently. I have to say Ashley Young looks like the best prospect of them all, but if the boss is going for Valencia, fair do’s Yaya Toure could be good for filling the Hargreaves role but the holy grail would be to get Villa, imagine him and Rooney up front…
June 16th, 2009 @ 01:20yeah alexis sanchez, i would like have him at O.T more than valencia..
June 16th, 2009 @ 02:25Isn’t the 6+5 coming in over the next few seasons? If so, then the Englishman will be a more likely candidate…
June 16th, 2009 @ 06:45i think the best replace for CR7: douglas costa, david villa ,d.sillva and A.Young not Valencia ..he suuckss:P
June 16th, 2009 @ 11:06can people stop using the term “CR7″ please its so cringe worthy
June 16th, 2009 @ 12:11Give all the money for:Ribery,Villa and Fergie’s favourite Xavi!that’s all we need…
June 16th, 2009 @ 14:55one united, buy tores and david villa,since rebery don want to come
June 16th, 2009 @ 19:23As someone mentioned, rarely do United buy these overpriced and possibly over valued players, ok maybe Berbatov, who hasen’t been the worst signing.
People are panacking suggesting Fergie needs a superstar replacement but as mentioned United is a team of impressive youths and even without Ronaldo possibly one of the strongest teams in the world. When Fergie sold Beckham he didnt have an immediate replacementof the same calibre but he got it in the end, in fact he got one better – the best footballer in the world.
Yes United will need to replace Tevez but personally i think Fergie will be looking for someone young with raw talent, someone he can mould i.e Bojan? Huntelaar? Marcus Berg? Look at the recent players he’s bought through, he doesnt looks for quick fixes he looks for long term investments!
June 17th, 2009 @ 23:05great but i think they need antonio cause gigs well leave soon
June 18th, 2009 @ 18:07Messi is committed to Barca. He will never leave…even if not this soon. For get Messi.. I think sir alex needs to buy Benzema, Valencia, Douglas Costa(for future talent) or David Silva.. When you looking at United squad we mainly need player from midfield.. If midfielders can’t create goal scoring chances for either Rooney, Berba, or Benzema.. we are all dead.. Soccer has to be mainly control by midfielders. It was obvious that Carrick, Anderson,Giggs and Scholes were out played by Barca midfielders in last final.Man U already has good def and offensive. We just need more players to control the ball and keep possession. We need quicker passers and player makers.
June 28th, 2009 @ 04:28I think if we get either Silva, Valencia, Douglas Costa.. we will be really fine..
realy man united (king of all clubs) is in’eed of david silvaaaaa because he is the best left wing and still he small and hje can give alot (10years) so if he is choosen that will be the best transfer on this season please sir alex ferguson we need to see david silva wearing number 7
July 6th, 2009 @ 09:16Realy man united(king of all clubs)is in’eed of best left wing who is david silva please sir alex ferguson we need to see david silva in man united wearing number 7 because he is the one whon can replace cistiano ronaldo
July 6th, 2009 @ 09:20I think Young and Sneijder are the two man.utd will need to concentrate on. Young can play on both wings and has experience in the epl and then Sneijder would be a great buy he could do what Iniesta does for Barca. Then Man.Utd will win the league again! Owen will score against Liverpool in front of the kop!!
July 6th, 2009 @ 11:27United must sign Aguero. He is world class meet the buyout clause.
July 17th, 2009 @ 14:28This is what we need to do this year,
Sign Obviously
Valencia £16m
Owen Free
Obertan £3m
Not so Obviously
Yaya Toure £10m
Young £10m + Nani
Bojan £16m (or Eto’o £18m but I prefer bojan he’s younger)
Costa £13m + extras if he does well at the club
Aguero £55m
That makes a grand total of £123m but we will earn all that money back with these,
Sell Obviously
Ronaldo £80m
Campbell £5m
Eckesley £3.5m
Martin £1.5m
Then Not so Obviously
Berbatov £35m (to city they’ll pay obscene amounts of money and if the want adebayor then they’ll want berba)
Nani As part of the deal for Young
Manucho £6m
Kuszczak £3m
Simpson £5m
Hargreaves £10m
That adds up to £149m and we only spent £123m so 149-123=£26m + the club give us £20m so we have gained £46m Yea See I know my stuff I’ve worked it out. And if we get all of these then we have only lost 3 if you include Tevez first team players and bought a load of world class players. And GAINED money. See you I hope we sign Young and Aguero at least.
only 1 of the above mentioned plays a similar role to Ronaldo and thats Valencia, only reason you guys are going against him is because he is a Wigan player, you are all just naming players from big clubs, most of which have failed to impress their own managers last season, Huntelaar had a bad season as did Sneijder, Silva is alright but is a left sided midfielder as is Ashley Young, but when you got a hot prospect like Nani who is an up and coming player (reminds me of when Ronaldo joined) you wont need another left winger, Valencia is a good player who will fit well with United, Sir Alex has more experience in that club than any of all you put together and i think he knows what he is doing, he has a good eye for talent and there will be reasons why he chose Valencia over all them players.
July 19th, 2009 @ 11:14