Could England World Cup hopeful revitalise Man Utd’s season?
Published:The future of Southampton’s Adam Lallana has hardly been discussed this January, but with the Saints slipping down the table and their skipper eyeing a World Cup spot, could the creative midfielder be on the move?
Ladbrokes don’t think so, pricing the 25-year-old up as 1/8 to still be stationed at St Mary’s come the close of the January transfer window, but the 5/1 on offer for him to join Manchester United suggests a transfer is not out of the question.
It’s no secret that David Moyes needs to reinvigorate a Red Devils’ midfield that currently lacks in tenacity, creativity and dynamism. He attempted to rectify one third of this problem in accruing Marouane Fellaini for £28.5m at the close of the summer window.
The comically coiffed Belgian has been a far cry from value for money in the fledgling stages of his Old Trafford career and the other two aspects absent from their engine room still need addressing.
Lallana, a player who can pass, dribble and get goals, could prove the aspirin to Moyes’ migraine, at least in the short term, and will surely cost a fraction of the price the Red Devils shelled out for Fellaini.
Lallana has made more key passes in his 20 Premier League appearances than Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley combined. The United pair have 21 between them, with the Saints man laying on 27. His creative superiority is emphasised when his four assists and four goals are measured up against the duo’s bagel assists and a solitary goal.
It’s obvious that Lallana must keep his performance levels high in order to get on the plane to Brazil this summer and losing game time is something he can’t afford to do. However, there’s no reason why he can’t star in the United midfield given their tribulations in this area across the season. If he’s playing in the Champions League for such a reputable side, his place in the World Cup would be all but assured.
All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date
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