Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho’s patience is said to be wearing thin. And the focus of his chagrin is some of the appalling defending which he has seen from his team this term.
British media outlet The Daily Mail, among others, has reported that Jose may look to offload as many as four defenders in the coming months as the futures of Chris Smalling, Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo and Matteo Darmian have been brought into question.
TFF would be more surprised if Matteo Darmian is still at Manchester United this time next year. His career at the club has never really got started and he will surely return to the slower pace of Italy.
Marcos Rojo looks as if he is about to get his make-or-break chance to show that he can be a success at Manchester United. He started against Manchester City and may stay in the team for the visit of Burnley.
Chris Smalling is a good athlete but an average technician. And Daley Blind is a good technician but an average athlete.
Which leads is to Antonio Rudiger, of whom The Daily Mail says:
Roma defender Antonio Rudiger, who can play right back or centre half, is under consideration at Old Trafford.
The 23-year-old Germany international, who is also on Chelsea’s radar, is fit again after a serious knee injury and will be watched regularly by United spies between now and the winter window.
Roma want to keep Rudiger, regarded as one of the best young centre backs in Europe, but an offer of £35million could tempt the Serie A club.
The 23-year-old 6ft 3in defender is a no nonsense rock of a player. TFF thinks that, as a partnership, he and Eric Bailly could take Manchester United’s defending up a notch.
Having recently returned from long-term injury, the Roma defender is still finding his feet. But he’s played 11 times for Germany and looks very much like the real deal.
Here he is in action. Manchester United fans: is it time for Jose to offload Chris Smalling?