There has been a lot of rumors being circulated about Ashley Young and his future, and it sounds like he is ready for the next step of his career – which could be Manchester United.
Over the last couple of seasons, Young has been plying his trade at Aston Villa preparing for his next move and by his recent performance for both club and country he is ready for that next stage.
Old Trafford has always served as a platform to either propel a player to that next level so the question remains, is Ashley Young ready to be the next star for Manchester United.
The setback for Young to be joining United is that Antonio Valencia and Nani look to be the first choice wingers at the club – unless one of them will be leaving to make way for him. Young is more like Nani than Valencia, because he can play on either wing or through the middle, which will give the club a plethora of attacking options.
As United have personally witnessed, Young is great crosser of the ball, and he is able to strike a free-kick with ferocity and accuracy, which has been a kink in the club’s armor since Cristiano Ronaldo left. Nani has the ability to knuckle a free-kick here and there, but nothing on a consistent basis, which is why Wayne Rooney has taken on this responsibility for United now.
Manchester United have always been a club that is a big promoted of giving youth a chance, but with a few of the elder statesmen leaving the club, Paul Scholes in particular, Sir Alex is going to be looking for a player that can provide leadership and experience for the up and coming players. Young already knows what it feels like being a leader and has worn the captain’s armband as a stand-in replacement at Villa, so he would be asked to fill the same sort of role at United.
Now nearly 26, Young has been biding his time for the last five years at Villa, and now knows that this may be his one and only chance for him to move to a big club. Footballers normally peak between the ages of 25 to 28, so he is on the very of his prime footballing age. It is not uncommon, or unfair, for a player like him to yearn for the chance to play European football on consistent basis.
Let’s be honest, it will take a whole lot of investment from Randy Lerner to get the Villains, who are currently manager-less, back to the European heights that they once experienced. With the club stuttering and unsure of their place in the Barclays Premier League, they are running the risk of losing their top players, not just Young.
Competition
It is said that United are facing competition from Liverpool in the race for his signature, but, as he admitted himself, Young is looking to play in the UEFA Champions League, which is something the Anfield club cannot offer him. The Scousers, who are trying get back to the days when they were the bully in the transfer market, are not able to even offer Young a shot at the Europa League.
With Liverpool out, the only other clubs that can offer the Villa winger the wishes he demands are Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester City, but since he made jump to the top flight of English football in 2006, United have won four of the five titles on the offering.
It would make a lot of sense if Sir Alex Ferguson splashed the cash to land Ashley Young, because he fits a lot of the needs that Manchester United have at the moment if they are looking to surmount a challenge in both England and Europe next year.
Submitted by The United Religion
