3 reasons why Manchester United need Toby Alderweireld in January

#1 A leader at the back

A leader than United have sorely lacked

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.