Is Vidic set to leave Manchester United?

 
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By , 18 Oct 2012 dan-talintyre is a Roar Rookie

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    Manchester United captain and defender Nemanja Vidic is being touted as a potential departure during the January transfer window amid interest from a number of clubs.

    The Red Devils’ defender is believed to be a transfer target for big-spending Russian giants Anzhi Makhachkala, who are thought to be putting together a very appealing package with which to tempt the veteran away from Old Trafford.

    This post appeared on Goal.com earlier in the week:

    “The Old Trafford giants are steeling themselves for a £33 million bid from the Russian club, and United are open to allowing the 30-year-old to leave with doubts increasing over the Serbian defender’s longevity and durability, following a second serious knee injury in less then 12 months.

    “Anzhi, meanwhile, who last year made Samuel Eto’o the highest paid footballer in the world when they bought the Cameroon star from Inter Milan, are said to be preparing an eye-popping £200,000 a week salary in order to tempt Vidic back to Russia, where he spent two seasons with Spartak Moscow…”

    The report also follows interest from Juventus and Barcelona.

    So will Vidic end up leaving Old Trafford during the January transfer window, or will he remain with the Premier League giants, who he has been with from 2006 and is under contract with until 2014, according to Transfermarkt?

    There is little doubt that the Serbian international has had his fair share of injury problems – he’s currently out of action due to another knee injury – and this cannot bode well for his long term plan at Manchester United.

    Vidic missed time in the 2007/08, 2010/11 and 2011/12 seasons due to injury, including a long spell on the sidelines last season, which crippled United’s chances in both the UEFA Champions League and the English Premier League.

    Throw in the latest injury concerns and there is little doubt that Vidic, at 30 years of age, will continue to have injury problems for as long as he plays football. This could make him a viable transfer option for the Red Devils during the January window.

    Sir Alex Ferguson does have a number of other options at centre back, including Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, and he brought in a great young talent in Alexander Buttner for just £4 million this summer, albeit as a left back.

    And should the Russian giants submit a bid in excess of £30 million, United would seemingly be forced to take the offer for an older, injury-riddled defender, regardless of the skill and experience which he possesses.

    The £30 million would allow the Red Devils to pick up another world class defender and perhaps even splash some money in the process, and it could also lead to another midfield acquisition during the January window if needed.

    Simply put, Nemanja Vidic is very good, but he is replaceable.

    He has been a cornerstone at the club for some time now, but he’s not much help to the club on the sidelines. That situation is becoming all too familiar.

    The option to sell Vidic, should the interest arise, is one that United fans must accept this summer, and it’s one that will turn out to be in the best interests of the club.

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