Which Of These Two Superstar Defenders Should Manchester United Sign This Summer?

Manchester United have been linked with the purchase of a new defender to lead the defence, after a torrid season in which United have struggled to find a leader to replace stalwarts Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, after their departures earlier this season. Both were adjudged too old to cope with the intensity of United’s game, and were replaced with talent waiting in the wings – Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans and Phil Jones.

Fans have long hoped and waited for them to live up to expectations, earlier using the fact that Ferdinand and Vidic were stalling their progress, but are now having to deal with the truth – that none of them might be as good as the earlier defensive rearguards that United had. With their constant breakdowns, injuries and inexplicable inconsistency, Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind were purchased to add solidity to the back. All of the players mentioned above were too fresh-faced and lacked enough exposure to the Premier League, for any one of them to assert his ability to marshal the defence.

United missed a trick by not investing in a leader, but there were virtually no defensive leaders in the market then. Over the course of this season, the need for a leader has been highlighted, as if it were thought that one of the current players would grow into the role, none of them have remained injury-free or shown a continuous run of form to hold down a starting berth. Now that Borussia Dortmund have had a tumultuous season, Mats Hummels’ future remains up in the air, while Miranda’s composure at the back while representing Atletico Madrid has not escaped United’s scouts.

Mats Hummels has been linked with a host of top clubs across England – with Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United among his suitors. Until the beginning of the season, he pledged his loyalty to Dortmund, but Dortmund might not be contesting in Europe next season, which could motivate a move to a club competing in the UEFA Champions League, in which Manchester United are more than likely to be participating. Questions have arisen over his leadership skills, as he was not able to lead Dortmund out of a slump in which they were shipping goals cheaply earlier this season, and Manchester United are in need of a leader who can show heart and handle pressure, without being sidelined.

He is a popular figure, and will endear himself to the fans, an example of which is the moment when he was appeasing the fans after a debilitating defeat, with Roman Weidenfeller at the Signal Iduna Park earlier this season.

Miranda has thrived at Atletico Madrid, as United were earlier in pursuit of his defensive partner, Diego Godin, who is younger, stronger, and whom the club was unwilling to sell. To circumvent the issue, United are seemingly pursuing Miranda, who is more likely to be sold by Atletico, as they have had one of the meanest defences in Europe, which rarely concedes goals against strong opposition, considering they face the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid at least twice a season each.

Having adjusted to the La Liga, an issue could crop up with his ability to cope with the change from the Spanish game, which is slower and allows more room for tackles, to the English game, which is faster and more physical. He will be able to handle the pressure and put in long, consistent shifts in United’s defence, which is exactly what United need at this point in time, instead of the chipping and chopping witnessed at United’s backline this season.

Any of the two players would add leadership, calm and consistency to a United defence which has struggled to stay the same from game to game this season. Miranda brings experience, which will hold him in good stead, but is 30, which means that he will lose pace in a matter of time. Mats Hummels has age on his side, but he might fall prey to the pressure which comes along with representing one of the most popular clubs in the world.

United would do well to procure any of these players early in the summer, so that the player chosen has a bedding-in period in which he can adjust to the players around him.