I think a good long term option to compete at CB like laporte or stones and a good exciting attacking player addition. In an ideal world we'd sign a striker too but we'll see
This would be key because we are this type of player away from having a defense good enough to fight for the title. That and a top class attacker that comes in from the right.
CB's - Still plenty of good options here, Laporte, Stones and Koulibaly being the best.
Guys...
Laporte is having a so so season, Stones is mostly on the bench with Funes Mori starting only Koulibaly is having a good season out of the CBs mentioned.
We need a CB with PL experience, leadership, someone who plays LCB, no nonsense and someone who can guide Smalling and help him be a better player.
Laporte - no PL experience, we need a CB who is ready at the start of the 2016/17 season, not so,done that needs adjusting. He lacks leadership and it will be Smalling guiding him not Laporte guiding Smalling.
Stones - Has PL experience, lacks leadership, Smalling will be guiding him and he has had a poor season.
Koulibaly - out of these 3 the best option but no PL experience, he shows leadership in his play, a no nonsense CB but Smalling will still be the one guiding him.
Who ticks all these boxes and currently having a great season?
Ashley Williams.
He has PL experience, plays LCB, a huge leader, no nonsense CB, he will be the one guiding Smalling and is currently having as good as a season as Smalling with 16th place Swansea...
He would solidify our defence and bring back a British core at the back. I think it would be a best CB pairing since Rio and Vidic.
Mike has now become one of the best CBs in the league has a whoscored rating of 7.18
Ashley Williams is also one of the best in the league but many fail to see it, has a whoscored rating of 7.23. Probably the only reason why Swansea are not sitting in the bottom 2.
Another key fact about Ashley Williams is that he is never ever ever injured. I looked into it and he has never been seriously injured throughout his whole career!
Since Swansea's promotion to League 1 in May 2008, Ashley Williams has played 28,342 of Swansea’s 29,070 league minutes.
He plays over 30 games every season for Swansea and not showing signs of slowing down.
An Injury free CB is what we are crying out for!
Yes he is 31 years old, but we seriously lack Experience, he would be very good for us on a 3 year deal, ready for us to find the next solid CB pairing as Smalling would be 29.
I reckon he would jump at the chance at this stage in his career to join United, he would also be a heck of a lot cheaper than any of the other CBs.
I think we could get him for around £15m
Thoughts?