Echoing recent reports from The Independent, The Telegraph claim Tottenham left-back Danny Rose is no longer a prime transfer target for Manchester United, with Jose Mourinho prioritising other areas of his squad to strengthen during the summer.
The news comes as some surprise considering reports of United’s interest in Rose span back a good few years now, and really escalated at the end of last summer when the England international cast doubts over his future with Spurs by openly criticising the club’s wage structure.
So, is it the right decision on the Red Devils’ part or is Mourinho missing out on a fantastic opportunity to strengthen one of the weakest areas of his starting XI with a quality player proven at the top end of the Premier League? Football FanCast look at the potential consequences of the United gaffer’s decision to pull the plug…
Luke Shaw gets another chance but eventually leaves for free
Ashley Young will likely remain Mourinho’s most trusted choice but the England international can’t be depended on to play practically every game of next season, when he’ll have turned 33, so at some point in the campaign the United boss will need to trust Luke Shaw. The former Southampton prodigy appeared in line for a summer departure, having failed to win over Mourinho during his two seasons playing under the Portuguese, but developments on the Rose front suggest the disputing pair will have to stomach each other for another twelve months.
Some United fans will be glad to see that, because there’s still a huge section who think Shaw should be in the team every week injecting dynamism into the attack with overlapping runs. But the real danger is Shaw’s contract situation with his terms due to expire next summer. He’s still a relatively valuable commodity in the transfer market due to his potential and previous performances for Saints, but will almost certainly end up leaving for free if he’s forced to endure another bit-part season at Old Trafford.
Considering he was initially signed at a cost of £30million+, that’s a whole heap of change to throw down the drain.
United’s attack continues to lack balance
While Young’s just come to the end of a fantastic renaissance season, excelling in a role that many assumed would be beyond his skills set, his effect on the balance of United’s attack – especially going forward – remains an underlying concern. Purely because he’s naturally right footed, the former winger is forced to come inside and take a few extra touches before whipping into the penalty area. Although his deliveries for much of last season were top-class, it inevitably slows down the pattern of the attack and those inside the box often end up drifting offside.
That was perhaps the crux of the appeal with Rose; although Young’s held up his end of the bargain, the Tottenham defender can have the same kind of effect while skipping to the byline rather than cutting inside every single time. It offers much greater balance to United’s attack and that’s something they’ve really struggled with under Mourinho – no matter which options he fields, they always seem to lack the natural fluidity that once made United such an iconic team.
Rose – who Transfermarkt value at £27million – would have taken the Red Devils a step closer to that once again and in terms of next season’s title race, just look at the effect changing their full-backs had on Manchester City last time out. It sounds hyperbolic, but having a natural left footer at left-back may well be the difference between winning and missing out on the crown next term.
Tottenham end up missing out on Ryan Sessegnon to a big six rival
Tottenham’s interest in signing Fulham wonderkid Ryan Sessegnon is no great secret, but United’s revaluation of their pursuit of Rose inevitably muddles the picture somewhat. It was assumed that the 18-year-old would come into the squad as Rose’s direct replacement, likely spending much of his first season playing second fiddle to the dependable if unspectacular Ben Davies. However, Tottenham are now left at something of a quandary because there aren’t too many other obvious suitors for Rose – the only alternative club mentioned by The Telegraph are Everton, but they’re unlikely to meet Spurs’ £55million valuation.
So it becomes a question of whether Tottenham can really afford to have three left-backs at the club, and whether Sessegnon really wants to join a squad in that situation – knowing he’ll need to outperform two players who have far more experience than him just to make the starting XI every week. Should he indeed leave Craven Cottage this summer, that may be just what pushes him into the hands of a big six rival instead. In apparent contrast to Rose, pretty much every major Premier League club seems to be keeping tabs on the Fulham teenager right now.
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