Why Aguero Is the Manchester City Player Manchester United Would Love to Sign

Manchester City's squad has plenty of players who would improve the quality of Manchester United's selection should they make the move across town, but of all those players, it is Sergio Aguero from whom United would benefit most.

There was a time when it would have been difficult to pick a Manchester City player to improve Manchester United's squad because of the lack of players of the required standard. Now, the challenge is narrowing it down to one.

Over the past few seasons, the sensible answer to this question would've always been Yaya Toure. Toure's midfield domination and remarkable goalscoring record stood in stark contrast to the ever-depleting midfield resources at Old Trafford. However, Toure is now 32, and United have finally addressed that perennial problem area of the pitch.

United's current squad lacks for centre-halves. City's crop of centre-halves, though, apparently do not fit United's bill. Vincent Kompany has struggled with form in recent times—although he is a fine defender on his day.

Eliaquim Mangala may be the best fit of the bunch given his impressive form so far this season, but last season saw him take time to adapt to his new surroundings.

Jon Super/Associated Press/Associated Press

Apparently Louis van Gaal did not believe Nicolas Otamendi was the answer to United's centre-back struggles. James Robson of Manchester Evening News reported in July 2015 that Van Gaal had "dismissed any chance of signing the Argentine defender." 

Looking from the outside in, Otamendi seemed a perfect fit. However, Van Gaal clearly sees things differently. 

Another great strength of City's comes in attacking midfield, and in truth, any one of David Silva, Raheem Sterling or Kevin De Bruyne would be a welcome addition to United's lineup.

Emilio Morenatti/Associated Press/Associated Press

However, the Red Devils are well stocked with creative players of their own, and bringing in more players in those areas—even ones as talented as those in that City triumvirate—would be a nice to have rather than a must.

Aguero, though, would directly address a serious issue in United's squad.

Although Van Gaal may not have been surprised by Anthony Martial's quality, he did acknowledge the youngster's consistent output has been unexpected. He said, per David Anderson of the Mirror: 

"

I’m not surprised by him, no, because we have analysed him and bought him because of our analysis.

In the consistency, he has surprised me, but in terms of his ability, no. Because we have known already for a long time he can do it.

"

Martial is currently being deployed wide on the left with Wayne Rooney playing centrally. Aguero would be a big upgrade on Rooney. Since the Argentinian arrived at City, he has outscored Rooney by 84 league goals to 70, and Rooney is three years older than Aguero.

Some of the difference in output can be explained by Rooney's lack of time at centre-forward. However, in that period, Aguero's league-goal-per-minute ratio far exceeds United's captain's. Aguero has scored at a rate of one goal every 109.22 minutes to Rooney's 155.75.

Michael Regan/Getty Images

Surprisingly, Aguero is just four league assists shy of Rooney's total over the same time span with 25.

In truth, in the medium term, United look to have addressed the quality deficit at No. 9 with the arrival of Martial. However, given he is likely to suffer a blip in the remarkable consistency he has shown so far because of his age, then a top-class striker would be a superb addition to United's squad.

Aguero is most assuredly a top-class striker.

Of course, in the tribal world of football, the idea of acknowledging the merits of your closest rivals' star players is unsettling, and plenty of United fans would be uncomfortable with the idea of cherry-picking from City's squad. However, if they had to, Aguero would be a superb choice.

All advanced statistics per WhoScored.com.