In the post Alex-Ferguson-era, Manchester United’s dominance on the English league as well as on the European stage has decreased. In the last 3 seasons, United have finished only once in the top-4 which is disappointing considering United’s consistent top-4 finish in the last two decades. After two average seasons under Louis Van Gaal, a managerial change was necessary and Jose Mourinho took over as Manchester United’s manager earlier this summer.
Personnel changes were imminent and Mourinho has completed three big signings so far. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Baily have joined United and a big-money deal for French midfielder Paul Pogba is in its final stages. Manchester United had also been linked with West Ham star Dimitri Payet. Payet was one of the best players in the Premier League last season and his performances drew attention from all the top clubs. Reports suggest that Jose Mourinho is keen on signing Payet but do United need the services of the Frenchman?
Payet was excellent for West Ham last season scoring 12 goals and registering 14 assists in the Premier League. He carried this good form into the European Championship and was France’s best player in the group stages. Payet can play on the left as well as through the centre of the attacking midfield. The Frenchman’s creativity and his vision helps him play key passes and through balls. While playing on the left, Payet has an expertise at delivering dangerous balls into the box for his teammates to score but it is his set-piece threat which sets him apart from the rest. Payet is regarded as one of the best free kick takers in the Premier League and has scored a lot of goals through free kicks.
Payet is a vital player for his team and signing him strengthens the attacking midfield to a great extent. Manchester United’s interest in the Frenchman is quite obvious but now they do not need to sign him as they have acquired an equally threatening attacking midfielder in Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The Armenian international was exceptional for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga last season, scoring 12 goals and registering 15 assists. Mkhitaryan is a very versatile player and can play at almost every position in the midfield. His preferred position is on the wings but he plays equally well in both the wings. He provides creativity and pace and his vision helps him play excellent through balls and key passes. Mkhitaryan and Payet are quite similar in almost every aspect of the game and having any one of them in the squad is more than enough.
Also, Paul Pogba is all set to join United for a deal reportedly worth 100 million pounds. The French star plays as a central midfielder but he has a solid attacking threat. He is a powerhouse in the midfield and he can score goals as well as create them. Mourinho has strengthened United’s midfield to a great extent and adding another midfielder to the squad does not seem to be a necessity. Payet will cost United somewhere around 50 million pounds and instead of signing him, Mourinho can use that money to sign another centre-back. United have been linked with Juventus’ centre-back Leonardo Bonucci, priced at 60 million pounds by the Serie A champions. Adding him to the squad will bolster United’s leaky defense and with new signing Eric Baily, United will have a strong central defensive pair. So, Manchester United should not spend on Dimitri Payet and instead should sign a centre back.
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