Manchester United: Sir Alex Must Get Robin Van Persie
Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that Manchester United have placed a bid to sign Robin Van Persie from Arsenal. There is no point in questioning whether or not this would be a good signing for United. It is. Period. Robin Van Persie is a stunning striker and has a deadly left foot. At 28, the Dutchman is in his prime and proved that last season, scoring 30 goals.
Ferguson is facing tough competition from Man City and Italian giants Juventus. Arsenal have a high asking price, somewhere between £20 to £30 million being the figure that United would need to meet. With Van Persie potentially joining the 19-time champions, there are a few questions to be asked.
How would Van Persie fit in at United?
Ferguson has plenty of young talent in the striker positions - Welbeck, Macheda, and young Will Keane, who will unfortunately miss most of the season due to injury. Berbatov seems to be on his way out, with United willing to accept offers for the striker. The pairing of Van Persie and Rooney would be lethal, with Rooney able to operate deeper than Van Persie but also score goals.
What about Welbeck and Macheda?
It’s a valid question because last season Welbeck was a solid contributor and consistent member of Sir Alex’s starting 11. Having Van Persie and Welbeck would probably be a welcome issue, simply because of the Arsenal striker's quality. Ferguson is the master of squad rotation and because Welbeck is still young, it would be invaluable to be able to learn from Van Persie. For Macheda, the future is less clear. Since his stunning introduction against Aston Villa, he has failed to capitalise on his opportunities. Disappointing loan spells at Sampdoria and QPR have left the young Italian with the need to impress soon. The arrival of the Dutch striker might spell the end of Macheda’s time at United.
Manchester United need depth in the striker position, depth that is ready to make an immediate impact. Manchester City had four strikers and their goal difference proved to be the decisive factor in the title race. More goals are needed and Van Persie can provide it. Manchester United used to spend millions to bring in players of quality and now is the time to break the bank. If Sir Alex can persuade Arsenal to sell to them, not Juventus and City, then United will have pulled off a coup that will pay instant dividends.
Calling all United fans: Do you agree with Alex's views? Do you think Ferguson should pursue Van Persie's signature? Would you prefer a different signing? Whatever your views we'd love to hear from you.
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