Manchester United Should Hang On To Ander Herrera Despite PSG Interest

Manchester United have improved massively since the arrival of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in mid-December. The Norwegian tactician turned The Red Devils into a Top-4 contender, and he also has the team sitting in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League. With such a marked improvement over the course of just a few months, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that other teams are beginning to look at United players for potential transfers next summer.

One of the biggest names that could leave the side is none other than Ander Herrera. The Spaniard has been in and out of the starting XI during most of his tenure at Old Trafford. However, he’s embraced a bigger role since Solskjaer’s arrival and right now he’s one of the best box-to-box midfielders in Europe. This has caused PSG to express interest in making a move for him, especially since Adrien Rabiot will leave the club at the end of the current term.

However, The Red Devils shouldn’t bite there. Even though PSG can entice almost any player to join them thanks to their wealth, Manchester United must stand pat. They can’t afford to lose one of their most dynamic players, especially if they have European ambitions going forward.

What are the reasons that make Herrera such as special player?

First of all, Ander is the only player who can effectively fill the box-to-box role. Let’s check, shall we? Nemanja Matic and Scott McTominay are defensive-minded players, so they’re out. Andreas Pereira and Paul Pogba, on the other hand, fit better on a more attacking role. Fred might be a similar player than Herrera, but he’s on the fast-track to become a forgotten man, just like it happened to Brazilian midfielders such as Anderson and Kleberson.

Second, and perhaps more important than his footballing abilities, we must consider Herrera’s intangibles. The 29-year-old Spaniard is on the prime of his career, and his leadership skills are quite noticeable. Several club legends have said the former Athletic Bilbao star has what it takes to eventually captain the side sooner than later. In fact, Herrera is mature enough to fill the captaincy shoes. That’s something few players on the current squad possess.

Things are simple here. PSG would make a great signing if they manage to land Herrera. But Manchester United must prevent that from happening. He’s extremely important to the side, and the club can’t sell him right now. Especially to another European contender such as Les Parisiens.