According to Sky Sports, Manchester United have agreed a fee of around £50million with Crystal Palace for highly-rated full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka. The report claims the youngster is heading to Manchester to have the second part of his medical and discuss personal terms.
One of the shining lights for Palace last season
Last season was another of flirting with the relegation zone, only to put away late in the season to secure their top-flight status. In truth, Wan-Bissaka was Palace’s standout player in his first full season as a senior Eagles player.
He was consistently solid in defence and was not terrible going forward, although the latter of his game still needs some work. For a player of such a young age, he often showed composure and defensive intelligence at a young age. His stats in blocks, tackles and interceptions ranked up there with the top defenders in the country. The 21-year-old’s performance did not go unnoticed and it seems that he will earn a big money move to Manchester.
Some have questioned the fee for a player who has just one-year of first-team football under his belt. However, unfortunately, in today’s crazy transfer market, there is a premium on talented young players, especially if they are English. There is no doubt that Wan-Bissaka has immense potential and that is why the Red Devils are paying the mooted fee.
Young players inject fresh impetus
Last season showed that the Manchester United squad are simply not good enough. The squad last season looked stale. The presence of a number of older players did not help the cause either. The likes of Juan Mata, Nemanja Matic and Ashley Young remain as the veterans in the Red Devils squad.
However, a situation like last season’s calls for fresh impetus. The introduction of young players into the squad tends to lift the mood around a club and a team. The signing of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and also Welsh winger Daniel James are certainly a move in the right direction for United.
If impress then the pair could be in the Manchester United squad for a decade to come. Although the pair are not the finished articles, they can improve in the future. Wan-Bissaka’s performances with England at the recent under-21 European Championships showed he still has a lot to learn.
The Eagles can re-invest the money
Crystal Palace are no longer a club that has to sell players to survive. The Eagles are an established Premier League club, which brings untold riches through sponsorship and of course television revenue.
However, every player has their price. The Eagles are set to make a £50million profit on a player that came through their youth system. There is no doubt that Palace can now go and re-invest the money on new signings of their own.
The Eagles will be looking to avoid another fight against relegation next season. They are outsiders for the drop, mainly due to the presence of the wily Roy Hodgson in the dugout. In truth, this is a deal that suits everybody. United get a promising player, he gets a big move and Palace receive a big payment. Only time will tell if Wan-Bissaka is a good signing. However, if his career so far is anything to go by, he should be a big success at Old Trafford.
Is Aaron Wan-Bissaka a good signing for Manchester United?
