Clyne to resolve United right back woes

Sir Alex Ferguson has taken time out from his annual dip into the pool of cod-psychology based ‘mind games’  with his title rivals to organise a pre-contract agreement with Crystal Palace defender and antiquated forename Nathaniel Clyne.

The Metro reports that Manchester United are set to snap up the Crystal Palace right back in the summer when his contract expires but, in a bid to avoid any lengthy delays with regard to negotiations for compensation or even a tribunal to settle on an amount, they will offer up £2.5 million for the England under 21 right-back.

As Clyne is under the age of 23, Palace have the right to receive compensation from United as they trained and coached him from a young age at their increasingly profitable youth academy, as that is what a youth academy is for in the lower leagues regrettably, turning a profit rather than building a successful team for the long term.

United had already attempted to snap up the 20 year old back in January when Clyne made it clear he was not going to sign a new deal at Selhurst Park, the Metro explains, but the player’s agent pulled out at the last minute leaving Ferguson annoyed but not put off. Much like Christopher Nolan’s Batman, Ferguson will always eventually get his target and is very willing to (and probably inevitably will) leave a trail of large-scale destruction behind him to do it.

With the helpful hint of a curious and slightly frightening picture of the Da Silva twins (halfway down the link), the Metro highlights the failure of any of United’s current right backs (or centre backs trialled at right back for that matter) to stake a claim for the spot on a permanent, long term basis as a key underlying reason for the extended chase of Clyne to solve the problem.

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