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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Speaking on ESPN FC, ex-Liverpool star Steve Nicol has questioned why Manchester United would make an attempt to sign Juventus forward Paulo Dybala, and insisted that the presence of Alexis Sanchez could stop a potential swoop for the Argentine from happening.
What did he say?
Reports in recent weeks have suggested that United are interested in making a move for Dybala after the Argentina international fell down the pecking order at Juventus, following the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo last summer.
However, Nicol has now suggested that such a move wouldn’t make sense for United and cited Sanchez’s continued stay at the club as a major reason why the Red Devils should back away.
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He said: “I don’t think this makes any sense. You’ve got Sanchez who’s going absolutely nowhere because of the amount of money (he’s earning). He did show some form in the Copa, so if you’re a United fan you’re hoping that he takes that into the Premier League season.
“So Dybala for me makes no sense. I think Solskjaer’s going to play with two up front. So it’s going to be either, if he signed, it would be either Sanchez or Dybala. You’re not having one of those two guys sitting on the bench.”
No comparison between Dybala and Sanchez
A move for Dybala arguably has no effect whatsoever on Sanchez. The pair operate in different positions, with the former more of a number ten or a shadow striker, whilst the latter a winger or inside forward.
Nicol’s added claim that Solskjaer will look to play with two up front also seems a little perplexing given that the Norwegian has seemingly preferred a one-striker formation in pre-season, whether that be a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. Signing Dybala would give the Red Devils a bona-fide star in the playmaker role and certainly elevate the club’s first-team.
Whether Sanchez can replicate some of his improved form with Chile at Old Trafford remains to be seen, but even fitting both the former Arsenal star and Dybala into the same team doesn’t take a rocket scientist to try and work something out. So whilst Nicol may feel this is an ‘either/or’ situation, that simply isn’t the case.
