World Football Round Table: Who Do You Want Your Club To Buy?

In the first edition of what will hopefully be many "round table" discussions in the World Football section, we asked several of our top writers: 

If you wanted your club to buy a certain player, who would it be and why?

Below is what they said on the topic.

Michael Griffin (Manchester United supporter): Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Ajax)

If I wanted Manchester United to buy a certain player, it would be Klaas Jan Huntelaar. I would buy Huntelaar because he can match Cristiano Ronaldo for goals, and his pace.

He has said he would love to play with Wayne Rooney, and feels that United are the best club in the world. I've been trying for six years to convince United to sign him, so maybe they will this summer. Huntelaar could be the signing that United have wanted for so many years.

Shyam Parthasarathi (Arsenal supporter): Yaya Toure (FC Barcelona)

With Arsenal losing Mathieu Flamini to AC Milan, we have been on the look out for a combative, defensive midfielder and nobody else fits the bill better than Yaya Toure for me.

He's tall, athletic and has a decent passing range as well. Most importantly, he is the combative midfielder that I mentioned above.

He would complement Cesc (Fabregas) with ease and in my opinion, would fit into the Arsenal system seamlessly. He might not the most gifted player in the world but he would be a kind of "unsung hero" in any team.

With Alex Hleb rumoured to be on his way to Barcelona, what would be better than for Arsenal to re-unite Kolo Toure with his brother?

Keith Griffin (Manchester United supporter): Karim Benzema (Olympique Lyon)

For my club, Manchester United, the player I would like to see acquired would be Karim Benzema. To me he seems to fit perfectly into our system. He is powerful, has pace to burn and can as we United fans witnessed, score a goal from nothing.

At only 20 years of age, I think he can only improve and is also a more attractive buy due to the fact he can play upfront alone, with a striker or out wide.

For these reason, Benzema seems like a fantastic buy for Manchester United and would fit the team perfectly in the current situation.

Zahi Sahli (Juventus supporter) : Rafael Van der Vaart (Hamburger SV)

As a Bianconeri fan, I would love to see many players come to Turin in order for Juventus to have the strength to challenge for the Serie A next season. The team needs serious working in defense where the likes of Burdisso and Grosso are tipped to move to Juventus.

Nevertheless, I am a fan of Van der Vaart. He would have such a huge impact with Juventus.

He would form a solid partnership with Del Piero behind Trezeguet. Van der Vaart's creativity would be welcomed by the attacking-minded Juve boss Claudio Ranieri, and certainly the Juventus fans would welcome the Dutch international's skill, creativity and talent to Italy. 

Van der Vaart would be the perfect addition to the squad at Juventus.

Khalid Shakran (AS Roma supporter): Karim Benzema (Olympique Lyon)

One of these players, without hesitation, has to be Karim Benzema. It will likely never happen, but you can't blame me for dreaming. Totti has called it quits on the international level, and it cannot be too far away on the club level.

Mancini, another influential play-maker has been linked to a move to Inter Milan. Benzema could potentially be that player that fills in the gap.

He has been known to play anywhere down the left and right wings and is fully capable of playing as the main striker in the Roma preferred 4-3-3 formation.

Benzema has the charisma and skills to control a team like Roma and ultimately become the leader of the team.

Salaar Shamsi (Manchester United supporter): David Silva (Valencia CF)

While I greatly admire Obafemi Martins (Newcastle) and Sergio "Kun" Aguero (Atletico Madrid), both of whom would be wonderful additions to the Manchester United squad.

I would like United to get Valencia's David Silva, he is remarkably quick and energetic on the wings. He has the pace to threaten any opposition down the flanks, he can cut in to create a goal or launch a sensational strike.

David Silva has now established himself as a starter for both club and country.

With Ryan Giggs striding towards the wrong end of the 30's, Nani is already present but I still feel David Silva's addition would add another dimension to the United outfit.

Dafydd Wood (Liverpool supporter): Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)

For some reason, I feel kind of guilty in choosing this player. To be honest, I can't see anyone who wouldn't want him in their club, and he's already very well known so naming him probably won't start any kind of debate.

However I do have a couple of reasons why the player I would most like my team to buy is Lionel Messi.

Liverpool have a very strong "spine" to the team, as Rafa is constantly mentioning, in Torres, Gerrard, Mascherano, Carragher and Reina. Messi would be able to fill the gap of a world class striker to play along side Torres, but also a world class right winger, to finally provide a real threat down the line.

His pace, close control and brilliant skill would compliment Gerrard's wonderful passing and Torres' superb runs making a formidable attack, which I believe would finally be able to challenge for the Premier League.

Danny Elliot (Liverpool supporter): Sergio "Kun" Aguero (Atletico Madrid)

Liverpool have got the foundations of a great squad but need improvement in the wide areas. Lionel Messi sprung to mind immediately but I believe he will soon be surpassed by another Argentinian prodigy: Sergio "Kún" Aguero.

Whilst not an out and out wide player, Aguero is equally comfortable playing on either side as well as playing just behind the strikers. Having just turned 20 this month he has a bright future ahead of him.

I would look to play him as part of a three-pronged attack with Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel.

Missed out on this week's round table discussion?

You can contribute next week on an entirely different discussion, till then I would like to thank all of those who made a contribution towards this week's initial "round table" discussion.

I would also like to thank Micheal Whittenberg from the NBA section and Jon Naylor from the Cricket section for putting forward the "round table" idea.