Why Daniel James is the right type of player Manchester United should target?

Manchester United are apparently “close” to agreeing a deal with Swansea City to bring winger Daniel James to the club. Here’s why I believe the Welsh youngster is exactly the type of player Ed Woodward and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should be targeting.

Swansea’s Daniel James ticks a lot of boxes. He is young, quick and comes off the back of a breakthrough season at the Liberty. His stats, albeit at Championship level were of a good standard, scoring five and registering 10 assists in all competitions.

There is a risk with the transfer, like any, as the season in which James’ is being judged on was his first in senior men’s football. But why shouldn’t Manchester United be a place for young talents to improve or fine-tune their game?

Under previous managers throughout Woodward’s tenure, United have gone for the big name players. The brands who will help sell shirts, look good in social media promos and attract sponsors.

However, with Solskjaer at the helm, it feels as if the Norwegian is helping the club rediscover it’s roots that Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Matt Busby worked tirelessly to plant into the ground for a number of years.

James will be aware of the pace of the English game and is likely to understand the journey Manchester United has been on over the past few years and more importantly, what is required to take it back to the top.

There seems to be a large feeling amongst fans, ex-players and pundits that Manchester United’s priorities have drifted more towards the commercial results than the football results since Ed Woodward took over from David Gill in 2013.

Irrespective how nice a fancy reveal video of Angel Di Maria, Paul Pogba or Romelu Lukaku looks on Twitter, signing big name brands hasn’t brought the club success on the field. Egos have been allowed to grow out of control and the phrase, “no one is bigger than the club”, one which Sir Alex Ferguson stood by on numerous occasions, has gradually dissipated.

Take our biggest and now most successful rivals. Starting with Manchester City, players such as Leroy Sane, Kevin de Bruyne, Kyle Walker and Aymeric Laporte, were not world-class players when they first arrived at the club.

The same goes for Liverpool. Sadio Mane and Virgil Van Dijk were both regarded as good players before they arrived at Anfield.

But, all of those listed above possessed something which the respective managers liked. Something which they felt they could tap into and develop, helping them become some of the top players in their positions in the world.

Now I’m not saying James could follow the same path. But for me, if United go in for him, it demonstrates a new direction. A more sustainable transfer plan which has an eye for the long-term, for progressing young British talent, and hopefully one for players who are hungry and want to play for the badge.