Manchester United Transfer Target Ezequiel Garay Evaluated
Zenit St Petersburg centre-back Ezequiel Garay has once again been linked with a move to Manchester United. The Daily Star's Chisanga Malata reports that the Argentina international is now the club’s top January transfer target.
Malata states that interest in Garay has strengthened due to Louis Van Gaal cooling his interest in Borussia Dortmund captain Mats Hummels.
A January move would seem unlikely as Garay only joined Zenit this summer in a £12 million move. However, as Simon Luckhurst of Manchester Evening Times points out, Garay is represented by Jorge Mendes. The Portuguese "super agent" brokered deals for Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao to join United, which may increase the probability of a switch to Old Trafford.
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It is a move which could be very welcome as Van Gaal’s defensive headache shows no signs of wearing off. United conceded once again in last Sunday’s draw with Chelsea and have now failed to keep a clean sheet since a 4-0 home win over QPR back on 14 September. Is Garay the man to provide the solution?
The former Real Madrid man's composed characteristics make him an attractive solution for United. An 89.2 percent pass completion rate in 10 Russian Premier League games so far this season, as per whoscored.com, would suggest as much. Such composure would surely improve United’s often flustered defence this season.
The Argentine would also bring big-game experience which is arguably lacking in the United back line at present. The World Cup finalist can also count two Europa League final appearances to his name during his time with Benfica and a Copa del Rey from his spell in La Liga.
Garay would also add a strong goal threat at the other end of the park. He bagged eight goals in 40 appearances, per ESPN, for Benfica last season including a crucial goal in the Portuguese side’s Europa League semi-final victory over Juventus.
There could however be some questions raised about whether his style of play is compatible to the English game.
One such question would be whether he could endure the rigorous side of the Premier League as the 28-year-old is not one for getting stuck in. A point emphasised in Argentina’s run to the World Cup final in the summer as Garay made only, per whoscored.com, an average of 1.3 tackles per game. Alternative targets Hummels (2.7) and Ron Vlaar (2.4) averaged higher.
In the Russian Premier League this season, his average tackles per game is similar, just 1.2. Garay may have to adopt a more robust approach to his defending to prosper fully in the Premier League.
One trait he does possess which would be invaluable in the Premier League is pace. Speed is the currency of the Premier League and very few options available to Van Gaal have the pace that Garay would bring in defence.
There is no doubt Garay would provide quality in an area of the park badly in need of some at United. Whether he is the sole answer to Van Gaal’s defensive dilemma is perhaps more open to debate.
