Manchester City swooped for once Manchester United target Jack Rodwell this week. Should the Red Devils be disappointed to miss out on the player?
Almost ever since he broke into the Everton first team, Jack Rodwell has been linked with following Wayne Rooney out of Goodison to Manchester.
Well he finally made the move, but to Manchester City and not Manchester United.
On the face of it, the signing seems like a bit of a blow to United, who are in dire need of adding new faces to their midfield at present.
Rodwell’s problems with injury and Everton’s previous asking price of around £20 million put United off.
City’s signing came completely out of the blue, indeed it was Chelsea who were linked with snapping him up in January.
For Everton letting him go is a disappointment, but a practical decision which serves them well. They are in need of transfer funds and selling off an injury-prone youngster, regardless of his potential, works right now.
It means they are under no pressure to sell key players like Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines, and can add to the first team between now and the end of the transfer window.
But should Manchester United care about missing out on the signature of the midfielder?
Rodwell is far cheaper than many of their midfield targets, take Lucas Moura and Luka Modric for example, the former of which is now unavailable.
For £12 million he would indeed have been a bargain, but his injury problems mean United will not be disappointed to miss out.
In midfield United already have the up and coming Tom Cleverley who needs to prove himself after his own injury plagued season last year, along with Anderson who has seen his battle with fitness ruin his Old Trafford career to date.
What United don’t need is another injury prone midfielder. Regardless of Rodwell’s potential, he is only 21 and was excellent for England against Spain last October, he was not the solution at Old Trafford. Not now any way.
At City competition for places will be more intense, but this will work in Rodwell’s favour as he will be required to play less, giving him more rest time between appearances. He might just eventually crack it and get past his injury problems.
He is due an injury free season sooner or later, and when he has one, he will finally show his potential. This is why Manchester City have got a bargain, they swooped while his price was low, before he had an excellent campaign and his price tag rose.
As his career progresses, Rodwell will hope to show why he is so highly rated. United might just regret missing out on him eventually, even if they do not mind too much at present.
image: © gordonflood
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
