Whilst Manchester United remain far from a club in crisis at this particular stage in the season, the 2015/16 campaign hasn’t exactly proven much of an enjoyable affair for the Old Trafford faithful of late, despite the truckloads of cash that were spent on several over-sized transfer fees and inflated wage packets throughout the summer transfer window.
Although every football fan does love to witness high profile signings arrive at their club, the Red Devils arguably need re-evaluate their current stance before deciding which players are truly capable of improving Louis van Gaal’s side for the upcoming season.
So as Inter Milan’s Brazilian centre-back – Miranda – has subsequently seen his named linked with a possible switch to the Premier League this summer, could this latest foreign transfer target actually represent a rather shrewd acquisition for Manchester United to consider in the not too distant future, or would the Red Devils ultimately find themselves better served by looking elsewhere?
Even though Miranda isn’t quite the most sought after defensive name in the whole of world football at the moment, he is just the kind of player Louis van Gaal could utilize effectively down at Old Trafford in 2016/17 – should the enigmatic Dutchman still find himself in the job at Manchester United before the new league campaign eventually gets underway.
It doesn’t take much to notice the sheer shortage of defensive quality on offer among the Red Devils ranks across the modern era, even if LVG’s side have managed to keep things tight at the back for large portions of the current season. Although both Michael Carrick and Daley Blind have performed admirably for their side of late, neither player ultimately represents a natural centre-back at the end of the day, which is something that could easily be exploited against some of Europe’s more dangerous opposition at some stage down the line.
Miranda himself contributed greatly to Atletico Madrid’s title winning campaign just a few short seasons ago in the Spanish La Liga, arguably defining himself as one of the most significant – yet albeit understated – names on Diego Simeone’s team sheet during his successful spell at the Vicente Calderon Stadium.
The Brazilian international, whose defensive ability was sorely missed by his nation throughout the 2014 World Cup two summers ago, subsequently sealed a switch to Inter Milan before the start of the 2015/16 campaign – and although the 31-year-old hasn’t made his presence felt at the San Siro for long – Manchester United are ready to make their move sooner rather than later.
Miranda is usually very composed when bringing the ball out calmly from the back, his ability to read the game effectively has drawn a great deal of praise in recent seasons, and his prowess in the tackle also deserves a fair amount of credit.
Yes, the Old Trafford faithful would probably rather witness their club sign someone of the ilk of Thiago Silva, Raphael Varane or even Mats Hummels before the close of the upcoming summer transfer window, but as the Red Devils have no guarantee of Champions League football on the table right in the here and now, maybe the Manchester United boardroom staff will be unable to employ such an ambitious approach this time around.
The name ‘Miranda’ may indeed fail to sell many shirts down at Old Trafford should the South American defender eventually join up with the Red Devils sooner rather than later – yet as Louis van Gaal’s side certainly need a little defensive strengthening before the start of the 2016/17 campaign – this is one player who Manchester United fans shouldn’t be turning their noses up at any time soon.
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