German centre-back Jerome Boateng is set to leave Bayern Munich after being part of an incredible team that won numerous trophies in his 8-year career at the club. Boateng has been told to leave the club as he is no longer a key player for them and the 30-year-old has attracted the interest of several top clubs, including Premier League giants, Manchester United. A recent report on football.london claims that the former Manchester City player could be available for €20 million in the summer.
Boateng has won numerous trophies at Bayern since joining the club in 2011, which includes the Champions League as well as winning the Bundesliga 7 times on the trot. The central defender formed a formidable partnership with Mats Hummels for club and country, as they also helped Germany win the 2014 World Cup.
In the recently concluded season, where Bayern once again won the league, Boateng featured in 28 games, making just 19 starts for the club in the league. His place in the starting XI has been taken by 23-year-old German defender Niklas Süle.
Should United pay up for the 30-year-old defender?
Manchester United need to invest heavily in their squad and need to buy well, bringing in players that will fit into their system and not just on the basis of an impressive CV. The Red Devils have made the mistake of spending big on players like Angel di Maria and Alexis Sanchez, who both failed quite spectacularly. Under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the emphasis must be on developing a playing style and formation that will get the best out of their players while also suiting the demands of United’s fans, who want to see quick, attractive football.
While €20 million for a first-team defender who has a World Cup medal is not a lot of money, Manchester United do not need another player who’s over the hill career-wise and will not improve significantly in the future. They need to invest in young defenders who can be at the club for a long time, while also purchasing players who can complement the current crop of players that are there at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils already have five central defenders, of which not even one has proven to be a steady hand at the back and the addition of a veteran defender who may have just a year or two at the best of his abilities is not a wise decision.