Manchester United are eyeing a summer move for James Rodriguez, who has been deemed surplus to the requirements at Real Madrid.
Rodriguez, currently on loan at Bayern Munich, is expected to return to Bernabeu in the summer.
But, with Los Blancos likely to cash in on the Colombian international, a move to Premier League could be on the horizon, claim Marca (via Talksport).
James Rodriguez: Just what Solskjaer needs
Manchester United have struggled in the attacking department this season. The lack of consistency from the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Juan Mata and Romelu Lukaku has been detrimental to their overall offensive performance under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
It goes without saying that the Red Devils are in desperate need of attacking reinforcements in the summer if they are to compete with Premier League’s big guns next season. The addition of Rodriguez, in that regard, could be a smart move by the club.
The Colombian international is equipped with certain skills that could help him thrive in United’s attacking game under Solskjaer. For one, he has excellent vision, which enables him to pick out a host of key passes in the final third.
Rodriguez’s composure on the ball also allows him to act as the ball-carrier in midfield, which could be beneficial given the way Paul Pogba has struggled in recent weeks.
Another critical asset in Rodriguez’s game is his versatility. The former Monaco starlet can feature anywhere across the final third, including the role of a secondary striker. And this could provide Solskjaer with additional options as far as his tactical choices are concerned.
But what makes James such an appealing target for United is his vast amount of experience in top-flight football. He has already made over 250 competitive appearances during his time in Spain, Germany and Portugal while winning 70 caps for his nation. And this experience could surely help him integrate himself into the faster-paced nature of Premier League.
However, the 27-year-old will undoubtedly need to be more consistent if he is to make himself a first-team regular at Manchester United next season.
As for United, themselves, they will face stiff competition from league rivals Chelsea, who are also said to be keen on securing the services of the Real Madrid star this summer. It will be interesting to see how this transfer saga takes shape in the coming weeks.
