Do the Red Devils even need a new left-back with the Frenchman looking as sharp as ever.
Since new manager David Moyes took over at Manchester United this summer the club has been linked with players from the Scot’s old team Everton – most notably Leighton Baines.
The left-back was in fine form for the Toffees again in 2012/13 and earned a spot in the PFA Team of the Year, ahead of the man who plays in same position at Old Trafford currently, Patrice Evra.
However, the France international was hardly in bad shape himself and the 32-year-old kept up the incredible consistency at United; begging the question do the Red Devils even need Baines if Evra is at the club?
For the sake of argument fanatix has undergone a comparison of the two full-backs to see if Moyes would simply be wasting the Premier League champions’ money.
Leighton Baines
Age: 27
Matches: Premier League 38 (16 wins), FA Cup 5 (3 wins), League Cup 1 (1 win) – total: 44 matches (20 wins).
Clean-sheets: 12.
Goals: Seven.
Assists: Nine.
Yellow cards: Four.
Red cards: None.
Patrice Evra
Age: 32
Matches: Premier League 34 (25 wins), FA Cup 3 (1 win), Champions League 5 (3 wins) – total: 42 matches (29 wins).
Clean-sheets: 11.
Goals: Four.
Assists: Six.
Yellow cards: Five.
Red Cards: None.
In truth Baines is probably the better all round defender, managing to keep more clean-sheets than Evra despite being in a lowlier league side and also getting forward more to help out in attack – producing three more goals and assists than the Frenchman in just two more matches.
The England international also has age on his side, with a five-year gap between the Everton man and United’s left-back. Perhaps Moyes should delve into those coffers.
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