In a recent media segment with talkSPORT, former Sunderland and Wigan Athletic striker David Connolly urged Manchester United to sign Gary Cahill on a free transfer this summer when he said, “There are deals out there. [Toby] Alderweireld is available for £25million and Gary Cahill has just gone on a free.
“Now, what harm would it be to take a Gary Cahill, with all his experience and winners’ medals, into the building? It’s that experience, you might have lost a lot, well get someone in that would give that!
“Look, he’s not going to bring the ball out from the back like if they had a Harry Maguire. But he’s a top, top centre-half who looks as fit as a flea.
“Obviously he hasn’t played that much, but he looks after himself. So why not someone like that? Under Sir Alex [Ferguson], he would always make an ageing, loanee signing, a Henrik Larsson or they had [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic [under Jose Mourinho] for example.
“Someone like that at the back would do terrifically for them.”
Cahill’s Frustrations At Chelsea Last Season
Cahill only managed to play 21 minutes of Premier League football under Maurizio Sarri’s tutelage at Chelsea last season. Hence, he is desperate for a change of scenery, so if Man United offers him regular playing time at Old Trafford, then they might have a good chance of landing him this summer.
The 33-year-old is slowing down with age, but he still has a few years left in him to play at the highest level. The former Burnley defender has a wealth of experience in the English top-flight having made 349 league appearances during his playing career.
Why Should Manchester United Consider Signing Cahill?
The Red Devils can benefit from bringing in an experienced defender like Cahill as he would bring a winning mentality to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad. Cahill has previously won multiple trophies during his time at Stamford Bridge. Thus, he would be a useful asset in the Man United dressing room due to his vast experience and leadership skills.
Furthermore, the English centre-back is available for free, so he will be a low-risk acquisition if Solskjaer decides to listen to Connolly’s advice and sign the veteran defender. Cahill made a total of eight appearances for the Pensioners in the previous campaign; however, he got most of his game time in the cup competitions. The ex-Chelsea centre-half has also secured 61 international caps for England and has five goals for his nation to his name.
Should Solskjaer Move In For The English Defensive Ace?
Recruiting Cahill will not only improve Solskjaer’s squad depth but will also increase competition for defenders such as Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof next season. Thus, it would be a wise move by Solskjaer to take a chance on the free agent by signing Cahill this summer.
