Despite numerous reports to the contrary in recent weeks, the supposed “chosen one” for Manchester United’s right back position is apparently not looking to leave his current club where he is very happy and settled. The player in question of course is Nathaniel Clyne who has had an excellent season playing as first choice full-back for Southampton. Clyne’s fine form for the South coast club has been recognised by many including England national team boss Roy Hodgson who has selected him for his country’s recent European Championship qualifiers where he acquitted himself very well.
As TEAMtalk are reporting, there has been continued speculation that Clyne would join the retooling going on at Old Trafford especially considering the defender’s contract will be entering its final year in the upcoming season and it is unlikely that Southampton would risk losing him for nothing at the conclusion of the deal. For his part when talking to the Southampton Daily Echo, Clyne revealed his feelings saying, “I am enjoying my football for Southampton, playing week-in, week-out and it is an up-and-coming club. I am happy playing for Southampton and happy to stay at Southampton as well.
The player went on to say, “My agent is negotiating, so I will just leave it with my agent and I am just going to concentrate on playing my football.”
What Clyne is saying makes sense as he obviously wants to be playing every week which might not be the case if he came to United where he would undoubtedly face some serious competition from Valencia and Rafael as things sit. The lure of likely Champions League football and playing for a legendary club like Manchester United may prove to be too big a pull for the defender and make him reconsider his position not to mention the influence a significant pay rise can have on contract decisions.
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman naturally wants the matter sorted out sooner rather than later as he commented, “In football, if you go in the last season of your contract, we don’t like that.”
LVG does not seem to rate Rafael as he has rarely used the Brazilian when he has been fit and you sense that while Valencia has been a relative success as a right back he is not a long-term solution there so it would appear United are in the market for a right back and the situation with Nathaniel Clyne does seem quite serendipitous so don’t be surprised if we see the now Saints player swapping the South coast for the Theatre of Dreams this summer. Chelsea may have a hand to play in this transfer but it does look like United will sign their 2nd Saints full back in as many years following the capture of Luke Shaw last summer who also chose United over Chelsea.