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Manchester United have had a season to forget so far in the Premier League, bowing out of the title race even before Christmas, while also struggling to keep in touch with the top 4. Manager Jose Mourinho was fired from his role after a humiliating defeat against high-flying arch-rivals Liverpool, but interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær has turned things around - albeit against struggling teams but has reverted to United's attacking football of the past.
The players that the former United striker has at his disposal have the quality further up the pitch to trouble the toughest of defences when let loose, but the same cannot be said about the backline, which does not inspire confidence or leadership, and has let the team down over the last few seasons.
One defender who many believed would strengthen the Manchester United defence is Tottenham and Belgian defender Toby Alderweireld.
Let's take a look at 3 reasons why Manchester United need to buy Toby Alderweireld in the January transfer window:
#3 Help build attacks
The successful Manchester United teams of the past under Sir Alex Ferguson had great attacking players, as well as quality defenders who out-attacked and outscored the opposition right from the start.
Oppositions feared United for their incredible goalscoring, which was inevitably started from the back, with the likes of Rio Ferdinand and Jaap Stam having the ability to build attacks from the back. This was an important ingredient in the success of the club against most teams as the defence and midfield moved further upfield, putting incredible pressure on the opposition's defence.
Alderweireld has those qualities that could work for Manchester United at the back. His good range of passing - long and short, as well as his pace can help attackers like Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial attack in no time and catch defences out.
Victor Lindelof was brought in by Jose Mourinho as a ball-playing defender, and although he has done well recently, he has looked suspect in defence, with attackers catching him off guard on more than one occasion.
Until Manchester United get another defender, they will need another quality defender to steady the ship and help United to a top 4 finish in the 2018/19 Premier League season.
#2 World-class player at a bargain price
Recent reports have revealed that Alderweireld's contract - which was extended by one year by Tottenham - has a release clause of £25 million, which can be triggered in the summer transfer window. In the current transfer window, we could maybe expect the Belgian to go for an additional £10 million, which is still a bargain for a world-class defender.
Many United fans and pundits have been sceptical about the signing of the Belgian to Manchester United because of his age (Alderweireld turns 30 in March), but world-class defenders have shown over the years that they can play at a top level till their mid-30s or even further.
Leonardo Bonucci was signed by AC Milan in 2017 at the age of 30 for £35.2 million; big bucks bring you big players.
Manchester United have also been linked with Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly, who is rumoured to be worth around £100 million, and being pursued by many clubs. With Manchester United defenders not being consistent over the last few years, perhaps they would need more than one central defender in this transfer window.
#1 A leader at the back
A quality that has been lacking in this current Manchester United side, and perhaps every side since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club as manager, is leadership. Gone are the days when the Red Devils had leaders who could single-handedly inspire and give a kick up the backside of their teammates.
Would the likes of Giggs, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic and co. given Paul Pogba the leeway to take on the manager (Pogba reportedly had a bust-up with Mourinho and had a group of players on his side)? Probably not.
Alderweireld is a leader who could have an influence on his teammates on the pitch with his aggressiveness and huge experience. United have to just look at arch-rivals Liverpool, who were galvanised with the signing of Virgil van Dijk and seem to have found a leader at the back.
The likes of Smalling, Jones, and Rojo have been at the club for quite a few years, but a spate of injuries, inconsistency, and bad errors have not given them the opportunity to nail a place down in the starting XI, let alone be a leader.
With United in an unfavourable position currently, they will need some stability at the back to build on their good run of form and challenge for top 4 positions.
