OPINION: Should we sign a player this transfer window, if yes, which one?

By Dillan MUFC - January 03, 2019

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The January transfer window has opened and there is no doubt in my mind that Manchester United will be linked with every player under the sun. One thing is certain, due to our fragile defence, we will be linked with some of the world's best centre backs. There are some reports suggesting that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been given the go-ahead to sign one player, other reports state that he will be given no funds for this window.

With that uncertainty, we are unable to predict what will happen this window. However, some of our writers have provided their opinion on whether they think we will bring in a player this month, and if so, who they want.

Joe

I think we will be reluctant to spend big in January because it’s uncertain who the manager will be next season. However, I think it’s obvious that we need another centre back. Apart from the obvious lack of quality in that department, we also have injuries and suspensions too. We must be better defensively if we are to be successful in the second half of the season.

I’d be looking at the likes of Alderweireld and Godin as options. Godin has experience at the top level and looks unlikely to sign an extension to his current deal at Atletico Madrid, which runs out this summer. As a result he may be available at a cut price relative to his ability.

Alderweireld has the Premier League experience and has a reasonably low release clause in his new contract. He could be an attractive option to United who lack a defender of his quality in the current squad.

Arjun

It’s obvious we need a defender as the ones we have at the moment are not doing enough. Victor Lindelof has been outstanding for a while now and needs someone just as confident and consistent as he is.

Rojo was in and out of the team before Solskjaer came in and then has not played, Smalling is injured but can be inconsistent and clumsy, and Jones showed his clumsiness and inconsistent performances against Newcastle! Bailly again has his moments but on his day is the best defender at the club but those days are dwindling.

Koulibaly seems to be the name that’s going around but with only a £50m budget he might not be able to join United but perhaps in desperate times Ed Woodward can pull out the cheque book for an outstanding defender and one that, due to recent events, seems unsettled in Série A.

Njabz

Should Manchester United buy a player this window? Definitely! Who should we get? Well that’s an even easier question to answer. It’s simple, it should be Kalidou Koulibaly.

With the meteoric rise in Lindelof’s game, it has been underwhelming to see him lining up with either Jones or Smalling (who over the recent years have managed to become driftwood despite the massive potential they showed years ago). With Bailly being one tackle away from being on the end of a sending off, it really means that our defence is often shaky and porous. Although United has managed to win 4 straight games, only our game against Newcastle ended in a clean sheet. If Lindelof could partner up with Koulibaly our defensive problems would be close to being sorted. He is strong in the tackle, takes no prisoners whatsoever, yet has the grace and calmness to play the simple ball forward. If we manage to sign him up, I can see our defence striking fear into attackers like we used to back when Vidic and Ferdinand were in their prime.

Barry

Sir Alex Ferguson famously said “Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles”, therefore I was heartened to hear Ole Gunnar Solskjaer recently echo the great man’s philosophy in building from the back.

Formidable partnerships such as Bruce/Pallister, Stam/Johnsen and Ferdinand/Vidic have been the bedrock in Manchester United achieving sustainable success and dominance in English football. I’m not usually a fan of the January transfer window however, in the past we have recruited real gems such as Vidic and Evra.

Despite the uncertainty about the next managerial candidate, I believe that Kalidou Koulibaly would be an ideal signing for United and is a player that any manager would like to recruit.

At 27 years of age, he is at the peak of his career and a move to our beloved club will certainly raise his status in the game and take him to the next level. A solid, quick, strong player, Koulibay is recognised for his physical presence and incredible versatility as he can play as a centre back and full back. In my opinion, he has all the attributes of a top draw defender who will represent what Manchester United is all about.

Suraj

The January transfer window is here and the question needs to be asked, "Do Manchester United need to buy players?". Of course we do! Let me break it down for you. There are two ways of looking at it. Do we let the new manager buy players in the summer or let Solskjaer buy players now. That depends on the player and position, in my opinion. We need a new centre back imminently whereas we can afford to buy a defensive midfielder during the summer. Now let's look at the options we have. Any United fan will unequivocally agree on Koulibaly or Skriniar but these are assets which need to be carefully bought depending on the system that the new manager wants to implement. So for now we should go for a cheaper option in Toby Alderweireld, who is reportedly available for 25mil. And once we get a director of football and a new manager, we can start spending the big bucks.