Mitchell Weiser would be a good replacement for Ashley Young
Manchester United found some momentum in recent weeks but they were recently subjected to a gut-wrenching 3-1 loss against Manchester City.
United’s porous and vulnerable backline continues to be a major cause of concern for Jose Mourinho. Despite their promising displays in recent weeks, United have been far too exposed at the back. It was the same old story against City as United looked shaky at the back.
To make matters worse, injuries to Antonio Valencia and Diogo Dalot has left Mourinho with Ashley Young as the sole option for the right-back position.
With all due respect to whatever he has done for the club, Young is nothing but a shadow of his former self. He has been caught out far too often at the back, allowing the opposition to enjoy plenty of free spaces down the flanks. Moreover, his reflexes have slowed down significantly, often allowing the attackers to make subtle runs behind the backline.
To put things into perspective, Manchester United not only need a centre-back but also a full-back who can contribute equally to both defence and attack. And Bayer Leverkusen’s Mitchell Weiser can be the perfect choice for the Red Devils to shore up their brittle backline.
The 24-year-old former German U21 international made his move to Leverkusen this summer from Hertha Berlin and has made a name for himself in the Bundesliga with a series of impressive performances. He has earned rave reviews for his work rate up and down the pitch and would be a welcome addition to United’s squad.
Mitchell Weiser is not as fast as some of the other top full-backs but he makes up for it with his agility and sharpness. Blessed with a sound technique, Weiser shows good positioning and awareness at the back. However, his most impressive attribute is his game reading ability.
The 24-year-old uses his anticipation to break up the play with crucial interceptions and does not hesitate to stick his foot to halt the opposition with solid tackles. In fact, he has averaged 2.4 tackles, 1.3 interceptions and 2.1 clearances per game this term in the Bundesliga.
He is equally effective on the other side of the pitch and likes to take on defenders down the flanks. He is not a good dribbler but makes up for it with his wonderful crossing ability, averaging 1.9 key passes and 2.2 long balls per game.
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Hence, Manchester United must pursue an interest in this dynamic offensive-minded full-back and they should not hesitate to table a bid for him in January. He recently signed a five-year contract and won’t be available for cheap but the Red Devils should use their financial muscle to test Leverkusen’s resolve.
