Manchester United: Jose Mourinho should not be looking to sell Daley Blind

Daley Blind is reportedly heading for the Manchester United exit door in the summer. However, the Dutchman’s value to the squad could exceed his eventual price tag.

Daley Blind is running out of time to convince Jose Mourinho of his worth to Manchester United, according to a report in The Sun. The Dutchman was a mainstay under previous boss Louis van Gaal, but has since been demoted after Mourinho joined the club.

Blind arrived at Old Trafford for £13.8 million in 2014. However, since Mourinho arrived the competition for places has improved at the club. United brought in the likes of Eric Bailly in defense and Paul Pogba in midfield.

Blind can play a number of positions, but doesn’t necessarily excel in one particular role. After beginning the season as a starter, it seems that Mourinho may well feel like he now has better options than Blind in the positions the 26-year-old can cover.

But just because Blind perhaps doesn’t have a place in the starting XI doesn’t mean he does not have his place at the club. The game in 2017 is a squad game; it’s about squad depth. Next season, if United can qualify for the Champions League, that will be even more of a factor.

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Blind should be down the queue of players the club are looking to move on in the summer. There are lesser players at Manchester United, who cover less positions, and bring less to the table, that should be at the head of that exit line.

A composed player who has a good range of passing and is adept at keeping the ball, Blind is also an intelligent player who doesn’t necessarily need athleticism to be effective. Good positioning and IQ mean Blind doesn’t get caught out as often defensively as he might.

His ability on the ball means he can not only play in defense at center-back and left-back, but also in midfield either as a defensive midfielder or in a more orthodox role. Blind can adequately fill numerous roles. That’s a valuable player in this day and age.

And how much will Blind sell for? £15 million, perhaps? Is it really worth selling? It will cost around that to bring in one player to be a replacement backup. One player that probably only plays one position. How much better an individual are they really going to be?

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Mourinho tends to prefer physical players or athletic players, and Blind is neither. So, in that respect, maybe the snub should have been obvious from the start. But despite Blind not being Mourinho’s usual style of player, that should not see him completely surplus to requirements.

Blind can still be a valuable, versatile piece of the Manchester United squad moving forward. Whatever fee he might eventually go for probably will not account the value of that in today’s game.

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