Manchester United have been on a mission this summer to find a playmaking midfielder.
With the retirement of a troika of veteran stars, including goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, manager Sir Alex Ferguson has taken the initiative to reinvent his squad, finding young talent at virtually every position. On the wing, he added Ashley Young from Aston Villa; on defense, he found Blackburn phenom Phil Jones; and in goal, he found David de Gea.
The one piece Ferguson has failed to find is a suitable playmaking midfield replacement for veteran Paul Scholes. Ferguson has scoured Europe, looking for his heir apparent, making bids on playmakers like Alexis Sanchez of Udinese, Luka Modric of Spurs and Wesley Sneijder of Inter Milan.
Of the bunch, Sneijder has drawn the most attention—and with good reason. The 27-year-old Dutch maestro fits United's needs perfectly and brings the kinds of skills that few in the sport possess.
But Sneijder won't come cheaply from the Italian juggernauts, although that doesn't seem to be causing Ferguson's interest to wane in the slightest.
In fact, a report from The Sun on Tuesday indicated that Ferguson had all but sealed a deal to bring the Dutchman to Old Trafford, in a £35 million transfer that would see Sneijder become the highest paid player on the team. He would be making a reported £220,000 per week—more than Wayne Rooney—and the deal was supposed to be finalized by the end of the week.
Is he worth the cash? Sure, but why is United breaking with their usual strategy on transfers?
While the report is less than accurate (The Sun has a nasty habit of throwing wild stories at the wall to see what sticks), the amounts of cash bandied about are fairly in line with what it will take to bring the talented 27-year-old midfielder to Old Trafford.
But, is Sneijder really worth all that cash, or are United on the verge of overpaying for a position of need?
The Dutchman is a genius in the midfield, to be sure, and were this solely about talent, there's little doubt that the dynamo would be well worth every cent. He enjoyed a stellar 2009-10 season, and while he had injury issues last season, he remains one of the best playmakers and scorers in the entire sport. He brings a balanced game to the table and his passion would make him a fantastic replacement for Scholes.
No, the issue here for United is Sneijder's age. He's not past his prime. In fact, at 27, the Dutch star is squarely in the middle of his peak years and is sure to enjoy at least four more years of elite football.
But United have never really purchased players in their primes. Their strategy under Ferguson has long been to grab younger talent—players who have yet to reach their primes—and develop them at the club, rather than splashing mega-bucks to get players who have already reached their peak years.
There are exceptions to the rule (Edwin van der Sar was 34 when United got him from Fulham—but goalkeepers' primes are later and longer than most position players), but for the most part, United tends to stay away from players who have nowhere to go but down from their current level.
Look at Sneijder as a fantastic bridge to the future for Ferguson, and United's interest makes a lot more sense.
As good as Sneijder might be right now, he's not on the upswing; he's hitting his peak and getting ready to slide in the next few seasons.
So, why is United deviating from standard operating procedure for the Dutchman? Part of it is likely due to the dire need for a ready-made playmaker in the midfield; Ferguson knows that without one, the team will struggle to match Barcelona next season or in the future.
But there are other things to consider in this decision as well. With youngsters like Tom Cleverly, Ravel Morrison and Paul Pogba on the roster, United believe they have the future of their central midfield on the roster already. But no one would say that any of those three are ready to take on a full-time role in the midfield for the Red Devils at this point (although that could change in the next two seasons). So, until they're ready, United are in need of a player who will come in and play at a world-class level.
Sneijder fits the bill perfectly. He's a world-class playmaker who can thrive for a season or two at Old Trafford. He's got at least four more elite seasons left in the tank, at which point Ferguson should know whether any of his young talents are going to pan out. If they show signs of stardom before Sneijder leaves, he can deal the Dutchman for a solid fee and plug them into the lineup.
In the end, while the move is out of character with Ferguson's usual method of doing things, it's a move that isn't rushed or foolish. They're not paying more than Sneijder is worth (even if that is a lot of cash), and while his salary is high, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who can do what he can on the pitch.
Consider the Dutchman a bridge to the youth talent that Ferguson already has in the club and the decision to chase the 27-year-old as the chance to see one of the world's elite midfielders ply his craft at Old Trafford for a few seasons.
In the end, he's worth the money and effort to try and get for a few seasons, even if Ferguson can't convince him to leave Inter.
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