Manchester United Set To Fix Defensive Problem With EPL CB
As January 2015 approaches, the contract extension talks between Aston Villa and Ron Vlaar had better be resolved as quickly as possible because Manchester United is reportedly waiting in the fringes to take advantage of a breakdown in talks between the player and his employer. Ron Vlaar is yet to agree a contract extension with Aston Villa which has sparked rumours that Louis Van Gaal’s Manchester United would make a move for the centre-back in January. Vlaar, 29, is an important member of Paul Lambert’s Aston Villa and also was a key figure in the Dutch national team squad which came 3rd in the 2014 FIFA World Cup held in Brazil. Coincidentally, Louis Van Gaal, who now manages the Manchester United team, was the manager of the Dutch national team squad to the concluded world cup. Therefore, Vlaar’s stalling contract extension talks may be more than a better pay package at Villa.
Vlaar signed for Aston Villa from Feyenoord in 2012 and the contract expires in the summer of 2015. Aston Villa would be torn between selling the player for a modest fee in January and tying him down to a better and long term contract or risk losing him for free in the summer of 2015. Ron Vlaar didn’t really enjoy an impressive reputation at Aston Villa until this year’s World Cup where he played impressively well in the heart of the defence for Netherlands and this has earned him the status of a highly sought defender for teams like Arsenal, Manchester United and other teams with defensive deficiencies. Now, the reason for the slow motion in the contract extension talks with Villa is yet unknown but one can easily speculate that Vlaar wants a better offer, one which may be stated high above what Aston Villa could afford to pay. This cannot be unconnected with the Manchester United factor.
Other than the close working relationship with the former Netherland’s manager and now Manchester United coach, Louis Van Gaal, the growing Dutch contingent in the Red Devils’ squad could just be helpful in bringing the player to the theatre of dreams, Old Trafford. This season, the Dutch manager at United signed Daley Blind another Dutch defender in the world cup squad for Netherlands in addition to Robin Van Persie, the very influential Manchester United and Netherlands forward. These are Ron Vlaar’s teammates who could influence his decision to move over to the Old Trafford and also, Vlaar’s English Premier League experience would prove very invaluable to the Manchester United side that just saw experienced Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic depart the club this summer.
Vlaar, who has been sidelined with a calf injury, is expected back into the Aston Villa squad after the international break in a match against Everton at Goodison Park. Aston Villa fans would not only hope that his return would turn around their losing woes in the English Premier League but also that the contract extension talks between Vlaar and Paul Lambert’s Aston Villa is quickly tied and the player to commit his future to the Birmingham based club.