Manchester United Transfer News: United Reportedly Join Race for Victor Wanyama

Manchester United have reportedly joined the race for Kenyan international Victor Wanyama, according to the Daily Mail, as the club seek to make further signings over the summer transfer window.

The Red Devils' scouts reportedly watched the Celtic midfielder in action against Norwich City in a recent preseason fixture, and it has now emerged that United have joined the likes of Arsenal, Stoke City and Queens Park Rangers in competition for the youngster.

Whilst Wanyama is nowhere near the best player on the summer transfer market and will not set the world on fire at Manchester United, the acquisition of the midfielder could in fact be a smart, savvy move by Sir Alex Ferguson.

First of all is the cost.

Wanyama is only believed to cost around £7 million, according to the London Evening Standard. Considering the money that United were reportedly considering spending for Brazilian teenager Lucas Moura, shelling out a couple of million pounds on Wanyama should be no problem.

However, most important is the fact that the 21-year-old could play the holding midfield role at Old Trafford. This is a critical position given the attacking talent already in the squad in Shinji Kagawa, Nani, Antonio Valencia and Wayne Rooney.

Wanyama obviously wouldn't be first choice, but would provide good depth behind the likes of Michael Carrick, who is coming towards the end of his time at Manchester United.

The Kenyan is believed to be frustrated that he is not being played in defensive midfield by current club Celtic, and is also interested in making a move to the English Premier League, according to the Daily Mail. 

United are after midfielders, and whilst they do want attacking talent, they could also use further depth in defensive midfield.

Wanyama could be harnessed and developed by Sir Alex Ferguson and Michael Carrick to become an excellent signing for the future. He could become the new starting central midfielder for United in the years ahead.

That might just be wishful thinking, but looking at the cost and the depth he would bring to the defensive midfield, there's little doubt that signing Wanyama would be a smart and savvy decision by Manchester United.

It wouldn't be glamorous and it certainly wouldn't attract the same attention that signing Robin van Persie from Arsenal would. However, sometimes, these are the moves that are required to create the best squad in the league.

You can guarantee that everyone will be paying attention then.

Is Victor Wanyama a smart pick for Manchester United this summer?

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