If reports are correct, it’s Manchester United and Liverpool who are currently fighting it out for Aston Villa wingman Ashley Young. One day Liverpool may be the favourites for acquiring the British youngster, the papers then report that Manchester United are in the driving seat. Regardless of who ends up with Young’s signature, it’s my firm belief that a move to Manchester would be the wrong choice for a player with a lot of potential.
At the moment Manchester United must appear to be a much more attractive prospect. They can offer Champion’s League football and a strong chance of winning trophies next season. They’ve had a successful season and will be looking to kick on again and pick up more silverware next year. Would you really bet against them adding another trophy to their collection in the near future?
It’s clear that Young’s ambitions involve winning trophies: “I’m an ambitious person who wants to win titles and leagues and cups and stuff. Hopefully I can do that. I think they say that players start to peak at 26 or 27, and I’m soon to be 26 so fingers crossed I can start peaking myself.”
Innuendo aside, given his aims, it may at first glance appear that Manchester United is the best possible destination for Young. There’s certainly a much higher chance that United will win silverware next season than Liverpool. But to engineer a move to Old Trafford with this motivation in mind would demonstrate a degree of short-sightedness on Young’s part.
Manchester United already have a wealth of wingers. Nani has been arguably the Player of the Season this year, despite what plaudits that have been unjustifiably lavished upon Gareth Bale this season. Down the other flank is Antonio Valencia whose pace and determination has won him a great number of fans this season. With Ryan ‘evergreen’ Giggs and the tireless Park Ji-Sung in tow, there’s a good argument to be made that Manchester United simply don’t need to purchase another winger this summer.
At Liverpool he’d be given ample opportunity to impress and with the Kop’s support would be nurtured into a star. At Manchester United he runs the risk of being a bit-part player who doesn’t get the game time to fulfil his potential. Young has spoken about his desire to ‘peak’ (ahem) and surely at this moment in time, with United’s squad the way it is, Liverpool offer him a better opportunity to do just that?
Winning trophies is one thing and that’s something that Liverpool will be able to offer Young in the future. More important for a professional footballer, however, is securing regular first-team football. For his sake and the sake of the English national team, I hope that Ashley Young makes the right decision.
Read more of Harry’s articles at This Is Futbol
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