Could West Ham’s loan winger Ravel Morrison really head to Manchester City and get one over on Manchester United?
Ravel Morrison was described as the most exciting player to come through Manchester United’s academy since Paul Scholes.
But instead of being part of United’s Premier League winning side, he is trying to rebuild his career after moving on from the club last year.
He had a number of disciplinary issues which caused Sir Alex Ferguson to lose patience with him, and with his contract running down, the Red Devils flogged him to West Ham last January.
He has played just nine minutes for them, with Sam Allardyce sending him on loan to the Championship, seemingly unimpressed with him in the short while he had him, keen to get him away from the squad, viewing him as a potential distraction kicking his heels on the sidelines.
Now it is being reported by the Mirror that Manchester City want to sign him, so how did that come about?
Morrison had a slow start at Birmingham, making just one start out of the club’s first 10 league matches, with boss Lee Clark criticising his attitude back in October, and that appears to have been a turning point.
He has since broken into the team and is starting to impress, having now played 27 games in total this campaign.
He is coming into a nice run of form, with one goal and two assists in his last five games, and is keen to test himself in the Premier League next year.
The problem is, it is quite apparent that barring a dramatic U-turn, West Ham do not want him, and are open to offers, but may decide to loan him out again.
This has led to the Mirror’s report about City’s interest in him, but it could be a recipe for disaster for three reasons:
Firstly the chances of first team football straight away are bleak, so Morrison would face another loan, potentially back to the Championship. Secondly Manchester was where he fell in with the wrong crowd and got into trouble at United. And finally, does Roberto Mancini really want another Mario Balotelli on his hands?
Morrison is clearly a talent, and City are right to be interested in wanting to profit from that. They’d love to get one over on their rivals, they tried it with Owen Hargreaves, although that was a dismal and predictable failure – but we all know how the largely successful Carlos Tevez deal irked their neighbours.
If City can negotiate the above issues then they could have a gem on their hands, but it won’t be easy, and the deal so far is pure speculation, but would would not put it past them.
The Mirror mention there are other clubs interested in Morrison but don’t name any. The biggest shock would be if United ever saw fit to bring him back, but don’t count on it.
It was Morrison’s overeagerness to play in the Premier League which saw him back himself into a corner at United in the first place. He would probably benefit from another year in the Championship to build on what he has begun this season. He is still 20, so has time on his side. If he has the patience is another matter.
What do you think of the report?
image: © geetarchurchy
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