Manchester United Transfer Opinion
Manchester United have been ticking along better than most people expected this season. They are riding high after beating rivals Liverpool 3-0, have won 6 games in a row, the only team in the league to have done it and sit in third position with talks of making a move for winning the title. Whether that does happen is a big question but one factor which will play is Manchester United need some help in their defence.
They have survived so long in the league without playing their best, they have to thank David de Gea for saving their bacon many times in the league and their defence has been poor. United seem to be in the market to sign a defender and one such player on the market is Atletico Madrid defender Miranda while another rumour being fuelled is that they are after Tottenham’s Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen, we shall see who is a better option for the Red Devils.
Belgian all the way
Miranda is 29 years old and has been one of Atletico’s standout performers over the Diego Simeone era but Jan Vertonghen would be a better option for Manchester United, not only because the Belgian is used to playing in the Premier League.
He is more agile and faster than the Brazilian, Miranda but Vertonghen can also play as a left back or right back as he has done for Tottenham over the past 2 seasons. Vertonghen is only 27 years old and has stats which match to that of the much more experienced Miranda.
Based from Squawka the Brazilian leads the Belgian in tackles made per 90 minutes, Miranda averages 1.27 tackles per 90 minutes compared to 1.07 for Vertonghen. However, the Brazilian picks up twice the number of yellow cards per 90 minutes with 0.36 yellow cards compared to Vertonghen’s 0.18, showing that Vertonghen is more disciplined in his play, although he plays in a more dangerous role of right back/left back for Tottenham.
The Belgian leads the higher rated Miranda in a lot of other stats which proves he is a better defender and someone who United should target. Vertonghen has 1.6 interceptions per 90 minutes when compared to just 1 per 90 for Miranda. Vertonghen also averages 6.8 clearances per 90 minutes while Miranda averages almost half of it at around 3.45 per 90 minutes. In terms of aerial duels and total duels won, both players are almost inseparable with 58% and 53% for both players.
Younger, faster, Premier League proven, adaptable and the stats prove he is a better defender; Vertonghen is the defender Manchester United should try to sign in the window.
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