Robert Lewandowski and Nathaniel Clyne – Through the Old Trafford Doors

Ahead of the undoubtedly manic and unfortunately frustrating transfer window, we’re putting together a mini-series of articles where a set of seven United fans each look at two players that they wouldlike to see enter the doors at Old Trafford this summer. We’ve asked all the contributors to be ‘realistic’ in the players they pick- something that leaves each and everyone with a hard choice under the Glazer’s regime. Each day this week, there will be a new article, from a different contributor, looking into two different potential signings. We’ve already looked at Michael Essien and Aaron Ramsey, and today David from TheUnitedReligion‘s job is to sing the praises of Robert Lewandowski and Nathaniel Clyne:

It’s that time of year, “The Silly Season,” as Sir Alex Ferguson has candidly referred to it on a few occasions. Once the season ends, Manchester United are linked with this player or that player, even when there is absolutely no chance of a deal, let alone need for, them. However, there are a couple of players who should be on the United boss’ radar – Borussia Dortmund’s Robert Lewandowski and Crystal Palace’s Nathaniel Clyne. Both of these two young dynamic players have been linked with the club, but they aren’t on the tips of the tongue of the begging supporters, because they simply don’t have the star name that they so yearn for.

Ferguson went to Dortmund’s fine win over Bayern Munich in the DFB-Pokal last month, and a lot of people were convinced that he was only scouting Shinji Kagawa, a player that we’ve since signed. However, the Polish striker, who netted a hat-trick against a very stingy Bayern defence, should certainly be on the manager’s short-list, and if you believe the agent talk, he is. With United down three strikers, Lewandowski could have just leap-frogged a lot of other potential targets. Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen are both leaving the club this summer, and young Will Keane has done his knee, which has scuppered his potential involvement in the first team.

With the No. 9 shirt vacant, there aren’t many better fits than Lewandowski to wear it. He’s strong, has a good height, well-balanced and can finish the ball. That said, he isn’t a finished product, but at 23 years, he would be able to fulfill his potential by learning from the greatest manager of all-time – who was also a lethal striker in his day. His capture would bolster United’s young attack, and also place pressure on Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez to perform every week. It has been since the 1999/00 season that Ferguson has had four top strikers at his disposal, who could all play together.

Despite posting the second-best defensive record in the Premier League, the United defence is certainly in need of another versatile full-back, especially with Fabio going out on loan this coming year. One of the biggest concerns last year was that there wasn’t an adequate player who could challenge for the left-back position with Patrice Evra. Yes, Clyne is naturally a right-back, but his inherent athletic ability and positional sense would allow him to switch over to the left. Clyne has a few things that make him very tempting target to United – price, age and nationality.

Coming up through their highly-regarded youth academy at Palace, he’s been their best player for the last three years, and was selected to the PFA Team of the Year for this Championship this past year. At 21, and being English, he is certainly a hot commodity – especially being on a free transfer. These two targets are players fit Sir Alex Ferguson’s transfer policy – young and oodles of potential. Both Lewandowski and Clyne would also have the right mentality of wanting to play for Manchester United for all the right reasons – and not monetarily, either!

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