Manchester United need another top notch defender in the summer, with two names standing out as possible signings.
Come July, Manchester United will be in search of a defender to pair with Chris Smalling, but should it be John Stones or Raphael Varane?
To be fair, either option would be better than the current centre-backs in the team. Phil Jones is far too injury prone to be a reliable partner in the heart of the defence, though he has shown spells of talent. Marcos Rojo isn’t of Manchester United caliber, Daley Blind is a makeshift defender, and the younger players still have a good amount of development ahead. As such, both Stones and Varane would walk into the team as starters.
Each player has his own strengths and weaknesses, while they would also fit differently into the team. Though they are both tremendous players, Ed Woodward will only sign one of the defenders, if either of them. That begs the question – is Stones or Varane better fit to wear the famous red kit?
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The Case for Stones
The Everton defender’s biggest asset isn’t necessarily a personal skill as much as a circumstantial advantage over Varane; he has Premier League experience. England’s top league is vastly different than La Liga. Better depth in the league makes for a more strenuous season, forcing players to be more consistent for all 38 games. Furthermore, the physicality of the Premier League is far beyond that of its Spanish counterpart. Stones has already dealt with the likes of Sergio Aguero and Alexis Sanchez.
The 22-year-old also has impressive pace for a defender, something that would help for covering behind Smalling. Going forward, his 88.7% pass success rate last season points to the possibility of his role as a distributor from the back. Such composure would be critical, given Smalling’s hesitancy on the ball.
The Case for Varane
Unfortunately for Stones, Varane is superior in every physical aspect. He has much better strength, likely eliminating any advantage for the Toffees defender from experience in England. Moreover, he might be one of the quickest, if not the quickest, defenders in Europe. The most important feature of his physicality is, however, his aerial ability in defence and attack, something that Manchester United could certainly use.
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But where the Madrid defender most eclipses the Evertonian is his mental reading of the game and decision making. Stones has been incredibly inconsistent this season, having a man of the match type performance one week while needlessly conceding a goal the next. Unlike the Englishman, Varane is rarely phased, even when confronted with one of the best attacking lines in the history of football in Barcelona.
The Verdict
Ultimately, the decision comes down to which player would worry opposing attackers more, and the choice is clear. While Stones has been tremendous on occasion, this past season showed how the strikers of the Premier League were more than willing to attack the shaky defender. In contrast, it’s hard to imagine Varane trembling under pressure.
Back when Chelsea and Jose Mourinho were courting the centre-back a few years ago, Didier Drogba described the defender succinctly:
"“It is quite impossible that Varane is just 19 and playing with such a great skill, strength and experience. He is one of the best defenders to have challenged me that way in all my career and I believe he will turn a wonderful world player in the near future.”"
The Frenchman, now 23 years old, has reached a turning point in his career. As a third option behind Sergio Ramos and Pepe in the Madrid defence, he can make a move to Manchester United to become a key figure in the team.
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Granted, the transfer will be incredibly difficult to pull off and could require sending David de Gea the other way. Without the prospect of Champions League football, Ed Woodward would need to entice Varane with an sizeable offer and the idea of a reunion with Mourinho. And that’s if Los Blancos, fresh off their Champions League success, are even willing to sell their highly rated player.