Manchester United: Why Ashley Williams Should Be January Transfer Target

Manchester United’s defensive troubles this season have been well documented, and Swansea City captain Ashley Williams could be the man to solve them in January.

Consistency of selection, results and performance have all hampered United under Louis van Gaal, while the defence has lost the experience of Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, who all left in the summer.

Williams can offer both consistency and experience, and the 30-year-old is capable of providing the leadership and organisation that United have been missing.

In 11 Premier League games, Van Gaal has used eight different players at centre-half with midfielders Michael Carrick and Daley Blind pressed into emergency action in the last two games.

Van Gaal has also given youngsters Tyler Blackett and Paddy McNair a chance after injuries and patchy form afflicted Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans.

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Marcos Rojo was part of United’s lavish summer spending, which was primarily focused on areas further up the pitch, but he has joined the casualty list with a dislocated shoulder.

Those defensive shortcomings have left United in seventh place, 13 points behind leaders Chelsea and two points shy of the top four.

Van Gaal has money to spend in the January transfer window, according to a report by Jamie Jackson of The Guardian, but he is not looking at short-term signings.

Borussia Dortmund’s Mats Hummels is reportedly being monitored, yet January could be the time to make a short-term defensive signing, especially if United want to achieve their target of qualification for the Champions League.

Aston Villa centre-half Ron Vlaar, who is out of contract at the end of the season and played under Van Gaal for the Netherlands, is another player to have been strongly linked with a move to Old Trafford, per Jamie Anderson of the Daily Express.

You can see why Vlaar may appeal, as Van Gaal knows what he can do, and he will be available for a relatively cheap price in January.

Yet he compares quite unfavourably to Williams when you look at the statistics.

According to WhoScored.com, Williams has made more tackles, interceptions, clearances and blocks per game than Vlaar this season.

Another area in which Williams outscores Vlaar is in terms of his passing. Williams has a pass completion rate of 86.7 percent, compared to Vlaar’s 81.1 percent. The former Stockport defender also makes an average of 58.1 passes per game, nearly 26 more per match than Vlaar.

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With Van Gaal being a manager who likes his defenders to be comfortable on the ball, Williams’ strong attributes in this area also make him an attractive proposition.

He has already demonstrated at Old Trafford once this season what he can offer. In Swansea’s 2-1 win on the opening day, Williams was immense as he provided a calm presence and organised his defence and team.

The Wales international has regularly been linked with a move to a bigger club after working his way up the divisions, and his national team coach Chris Coleman pressed those claims over 18 months ago when he told BBC Sport: "If I was manager of a top-four club I'd have no qualms in looking at Ashley Williams and trying to sign him. I'm not surprised that he's being linked with big clubs [and] I'm not surprised he's done as well as he has done."

Jackson reported Arsenal and Liverpool have been interested in the past, and even United were linked with him in the final months of Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign as manager, according to Dave Kidd of the Mirror.

It has to be said that the ideal time to sign Williams was at the end of last season, when Jackson claimed he could have been available for as little as £3 million as he prepared to enter the final year of his contract.

Williams subsequently signed a three-year extension at the Liberty Stadium, and that could push his price now beyond £10 million. Swansea would also be reluctant sellers, especially after their impressive start to the season.

However, £10 million could be a small price to pay if it helps to avoid a second successive year without Champions League football for United.

With plenty of promising and raw talent in the United defence, they are crying out for someone to lead them, and Williams has shown he is capable of doing that.

Williams may not be a big-name signing to rival those of Angel Di Maria or Radamel Falcao, but he has proved himself to be a consistent Premier League defender, and that is what United need right now.