Ramos is quick fix LVG needs

Louis van Gaal has hinted the club may be pursuing Sergio Ramos. Photo: Andrea Comas

Louis van Gaal has hinted the club may be pursuing Sergio Ramos. Photo: Andrea Comas

Published Jul 4, 2015

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London - The restructuring of Manchester United in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era continues apace. Old Trafford’s academy system is being remodelled along more modern lines while United’s scouting network remains under review.

It is, however, deep within the first-team squad that dramatic change at England’s most successful club is being felt and nowhere is that more apparent than in the pursuit of Spain international Sergio Ramos.

The Real Madrid defender is, in some ways, the antithesis of the players Ferguson sought towards the end of his tenure. He is undeniably talented but, at 29, is approaching the final stages of his career. If Ramos does come to Manchester, he will do so on the back of a pay dispute with his current employers.

The transfer, likely to take a fee north of £35million to pull off, would have set alarm bells ringing for Ferguson.

However, the current United - the one left by Ferguson, then passed rather unfortunately by David Moyes to Louis van Gaal - is in need of experienced players, those who can help the club make some forward steps very quickly, players bought for the here and now.

For the time being at least, words such as ‘potential’ and phrases like ‘resale value’ - judged to be so important at Old Trafford until recent times - have been set aside. United find themselves playing catch-up in the slipstream of clubs like Manchester City and Chelsea and this is why they have turned in part to expensive, experienced players.

Those who know Van Gaal are surprised he has authorised a bid of almost £30m for Ramos. The Madrid player is not necessarily a Van Gaal type in terms of character or technical ability.

Nevertheless, the United manager has identified clear failings at the centre of the defence and midfield.

These are fundamental areas and Van Gaal has decided he doesn’t have time to wait and see if Phil Jones will ever fulfil his potential, or if players like Paddy McNair or Tyler Blackett can make the step up from reserve-team level for the long term.

To Van Gaal’s credit, he is doing what he can to look after United’s future. The Dutch international Memphis Depay, signed from PSV Eindhoven, is only 21, Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin, also interesting Arsenal, is 25 and approaching his peak years while another target, Lazio’s Brazilian midfielder Felipe Anderson, is just 22.

Van Gaal is the first manager to be appointed by United for a long time who carries a fundamentally short-term brief. His role is one founded on damage repair, stability and then rapid recovery of ground lost.

This is why the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss continues to hope that Bayern’s midfield totem Bastian Schweinsteiger can be tempted at the age of almost 31.

As Van Gaal prepares to take his team back into the Champions League - they have a two-legged qualifier next month - he is aware the club’s squad has been allowed to run dry of genuine know-how in key areas.

It was not that long ago that United would brief reporters that players over 27 would not be considered for purchase. The signing of Robin van Persie, then 29, from Arsenal three years ago was said to be an exception - a player bought with regaining the Barclays Premier League title in mind.

That piece of business worked brilliantly, of course. Van Persie scored heavily as United wrestled the title back from City in 2013. As the Dutch striker’s contract runs down and his £1m-a-month salary begins to feel a little painful, it is rightly considered to have been worth every penny.

Times are a little different now. Back in 2012, Ferguson’s United squad needed a tweak. This one needs something of an overhaul after a first season under Van Gaal that saw his team finish fourth in unconvincing style.

No matter which way you look at it, United’s pursuit of Ramos seems at odds with what they have traditionally been about. They paid £30m for Rio Ferdinand in 2002 but he was only 23.

Ramos would be a glamour signing but United have never needed to pay for that particular commodity. This is not about that. This is about a manager who inherited a team without a reliable spine.

Van Gaal, 12 months into a three-year contract, does not have time to build one. The only alternative is to try to buy one.

Daily Mail

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