In two summer windows under Jose Mourinho, Manchester United fans saw the arrival of some world-class players. Last year it was the veteran Zlatan Ibrahimovic, United’s prodigal son Paul Pogba, talented defender Eric Bailly and the mischievous playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan. This year, in the beginning of the summer, Mourinho outlined the need for four more players; a striker, a winger, a defensive midfielder and another centre back.
The striker came in the form of £75m man Romelu Lukaku from Everton. The centre-back was the stylish defender from Benfica, Victor Lindelof and the midfielder was from Jose’s ex-club Chelsea, Serbian powerhouse Nemanja Matic.
Only a deal was left for a winger and Mourinho would have been done in the market. However, the inflated market was no place to strike easy deals and with prices rocketing up for every player, United were one player short, on the wings. The problem of having a winger short was dismissed initially in the season, however.
United began the season in fine fashion banging in goals left, right and centre. With Lukaku unable to stop scoring, Mkhitaryan assisting every time he touched the ball and Pogba providing the boom, United looked invincible. Add to that the illustrious dribbling and pace of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, and Old Trafford was rocking.
Things have fallen off-pace somewhat since the injury to their midfield ace Pogba and although the Red Devils are still happily chipping their way through, there is certain lack of style, from what is expected at Old Trafford.
It is in this light, that there has been talk of United needing that talked about winger from the summer and it seems now that the solution might have been right in their hands all along.
United product Andreas Pereira, who was sent out on loan in the summer to Valencia, has played some impressive games for the Spanish outfit and helped the team to a healthy position in the league. It is now being reported that United, who loaned him out to Valencia for a certain fee, would be tempted to bring him back in the January window if they do not find a suitable option or solution to their lost flair.
While for United it would mean more options to choose from, Pereira must be careful of his choices. The youngster is at a crucial stage of his career and will want to play regularly to develop, something he won’t be guaranteed at Old Trafford. He would desperately want to keep a hold off his current form and returning to Manchester so fast might not be the best solution for that.
But can he resist if Mourinho decides to ring the young winger?
