Eric Bailly is the first signing of the Jose Mourinho era at Manchester United.
With Jose Mourinho now announced as the new Manchester United manager, it looks like he is already taking steps to build the team in his own image, despite only being in the job for a few days.
Eric Bailly looks set to become the first signing of the regime, and this has left a few of us here at the Transfer Tavern scratching our heads.
Despite a number of young central defenders being available, and with a number of names linked with United – they have instead opted for a player that is largely out of left field.
Our landlord here in the Transfer Tavern thinks the decision to sign the young Ivorian is a bit of a weird one, and he thinks there was a host of young defensive talent he could have gone for instead for very similar money.
Here’s FIVE defenders who Man United should have bought for £30m instead of Eric Bailly……
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PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE FIVE BAILLY ALTERNATIVES!
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John Stones
The obvious one.
Stones looks set to be the target of transfer rumours throughout the summer, with a host of huge European clubs interested in the young English defender.
Stones would likely cost around the £30 million mark given his poor performances this season, reducing his cost compared to last summer.
He has the experience of playing in the Premier League, and under a defensive manager like Jose Mourinho there is no doubting the fact that he would be back to his best in no time.
On top of that, he has the valued trait of being home grown; a rare commodity in top players today.
Our landlord wouldn’t be surprised if United went back in for the young English defender; but we think he should have been the first port of call for United.
Marquinhos
Another player that looks set to be the target of a number of transfer rumours here in the Tavern over the next few weeks, United would struggle to do better than this young Brazilian in their search for a new central defender.
The chances of the defender moving this summer appear good; he is unhappy at PSG and a number of European clubs are circling for his signature.
Again, he wouldn’t have been cheap – but with United reportedly paying £30 million for Bailly; Marquinos would be available for a similar price.
Marquinos has the experience of playing at the top level in Europe, and would certainly have done a job at United.
Aymeric Laporte
Another world renowned young central defender is Aymeric Laporte.
Reportedly a target of a number of clubs this year, Laportre is another young defender with bags of potential.
In Laporte you have a player that has competed with the best in La Liga and often came out on top.
There is no doubting his quality, and you can certainly expect him to end up at a top club in Europe this summer.
Leonardo Bonucci
A player that looks set to end up in the Premier League this summer, Bonucci is a target of Antonio Conte at Chelsea; and he would have fit in perfectly at United.
He offers that raw passion and determination that every central defender needs, and at 29 he is entering the prime period for a central defender.
Where as many of the targets listed alongside Bailly are young, as United look to build for the future; Bonucci is an experienced central defender, and would have brought immediate results to the club.
Naldo
Another player that is getting on in years, Naldo would certainly have been a short term fix for United, but there is no doubting his quality
At 33, Naldo is certainly not a youngster; but the way he plays means that United could have easily got two or three years of experience and consistency out of the defender, offering something different to Bailly.
Mourinho often values experience over youth; so he certainly would have looked at Naldo.
Obviously Naldo would cost nowhere near £30 million given his age, but perhaps his signing would have given Mourinho the chance to look towards the clubs youth setup that has been producing so much quality in recent years, with Naldo being more of a stopgap for the Red Devils.
