Portuguese newspaper, O Jogo, today claimed that Manchester United have verbally agreed to sign Nicolás Gaitán from Benfica for £22million. United have been strongly linked with the Argentine since late 2011, so speculation of this sort doesn’t come with much of a surprise.
Gaitan had a good Champions League campaign this year, showing a great deal of creativity on Europe’s biggest stage. However, the 24-year-old midfielder still has another four years remaining on his contract with a clause worth £45million. This means United will probably offer an exchange of two or three players along with the £22million which is being reported.
The reaction from United fans has been hit and miss. Some have said he’s not as good as others have made him out to be which is fair enough. I personally think supporters take evidence from YouTube too seriously nowadays when scouting players, forgetting about how these clips never show the mistakes each footballer makes.
This is just paper talk for now, so I wouldn’t advise anybody to get excited over it. Although, I do expect Ferguson to do his business early on in the transfer market for various reasons.
I really don’t think that we would be in market for a winger. Spending £22million+player(s) exchange on someone who won’t be an upgrade on what we currently have doesn’t look the United way for me.
From what I hear, Gaitan is equally good on either leg which makes him pretty versatile. Fergie, if the interest is legit, might see him in a more central role because he is well able to spread the ball around.
I really don’t think that we would be in market for a winger. Spending £22million+player(s) exchange on someone who won’t be an upgrade on what we currently have doesn’t look the United way for me.
From what I hear, Gaitan is equally good on either leg which makes him pretty versatile. Fergie, if the interest is legit, might see him in a more central role because he is well able to spread the ball around.
I’m curious what your opinion on this prospective target is. It seems that SAF is looking towards a wide player to fill that playmaking role, much like David Silva or Samir Nasri – who we were obviously heavily linked to last summer. An idea which I think is a good idea, as a player like Sneijder plays almost the same role as Rooney and really is best right behind a lone striker. But do you think Gaitan is a good option for United? He plays best out on the right where he can cut in, a position which Valencia has really made his own this season. Personally I would be more interested in a player like Eden Hazard who can cut in from the left and influence play that way. Obviously though he would come with a much higher price tag. But I don’t know, I was curious what your view on the Gaitan speculation is.
To be honest, I haven’t seen enough of Gaitan to comment on whether I think he is what United need… Like I said though, the reaction from fellow supporters has been hit and miss. This won’t be the last you will hear of Gaitan and United though. I can see the tabloids playing with the story for the entire summer unless he leaves Benfica.
I’m curious what your opinion on this prospective target is. It seems that SAF is looking towards a wide player to fill that playmaking role, much like David Silva or Samir Nasri – who we were obviously heavily linked to last summer. An idea which I think is a good idea, as a player like Sneijder plays almost the same role as Rooney and really is best right behind a lone striker. But do you think Gaitan is a good option for United? He plays best out on the right where he can cut in, a position which Valencia has really made his own this season. Personally I would be more interested in a player like Eden Hazard who can cut in from the left and influence play that way. Obviously though he would come with a much higher price tag. But I don’t know, I was curious what your view on the Gaitan speculation is.
To be honest, I haven’t seen enough of Gaitan to comment on whether I think he is what United need… Like I said though, the reaction from fellow supporters has been hit and miss. This won’t be the last you will hear of Gaitan and United though. I can see the tabloids playing with the story for the entire summer unless he leaves Benfica.