Defending Premier League Champions Chelsea have slapped a whopping £50-million price tag on their reliable midfielder Nemanja Matic, who is rumoured to be a prime transfer target for their fierce rivals Manchester United.
The Red Devils are thought to be mulling a move for the midfielder in recent weeks, after their attempts to reel in defensive midfielder Eric Dier from Tottenham Hotspur appear to end in vain, with the White Hart Lane outfit adamant in keeping their star player.
Indeed, according to the Daily Mirror, it is understood that United have already launched a £35-million bid for Matic in the last few days – a huge sum for a player who is already 28 years old, has little re-sale value, and has only two years left in his contract.
Despite the generous offer, it appears Chelsea are not interested in selling the former Benfica and Vitesse footballer for cheap and have instead made a counter-offer of £50-million – something United could certainly afford, although logic dictates such a huge amount is considerably overpriced for a player of Matic’s age and status.
Matic’s expertise in the midfield area, however, is undeniable. His work rate and defensive skills, as well as his overall ability to control the centre of the pitch is widely evident in his 40 appearances across all competitions last season, where he slotted home two goals and nine assists.
More than his contribution in scoring goals, his ability to keep possession for his team through good work rate and passing, makes him a stand-out player in his position.
And yet, to spend an illogical and exorbitant amount on such a player would be a stupid move for anyone, even if you are Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese tactician, however, is known for buying former players from former clubs and Matic definitely falls in that category.
But for the sake of the Red Devils boss, he should steer clear of this deal. It’s overpriced and overhyped – a combination that could lead to massive disaster for Manchester United.