Missing out on Ivan Perisic could cost Manchester United dearly

Manchester United might have had a brilliant start to the season with four wins and a draw in all competitions, but there is a pattern forming that could cost the Red Devils dearly in the business end of their campaign.

While José Mourinho has Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial at his disposal in advanced positions down the left-hand side, they are not traditional wingers at all. In fact, both have been, in the mean time, converted from a centre forward to a wide forward.

Both players are fantastic at what they do: dribble past their opponent with guile and skill, cut inside and either steer an in-swinging cross to the back post, or go for goal.

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It is a very effective option, as proven this season, but as the season goes on, Manchester United will need variance in their attacking play. Unfortunately for them, with Luke Shaw still gaining match fitness, they are without an attacking left back either.

Daley Blind and Matteo Darmian are natural defenders, they understand the technicalities of defending having grown up in the Netherlands and Italy. And while they are astute at seeking out danger, they rarely bombard past the halfway line and act as another option in attack – something United needs.

Mourinho made it very public that he was a fan of Ivan Perišić this summer. He desperately wanted him but could not convince Ed Woodward, the executive vice-chairman of Manchester United, to match Inter’s asking price of £50m. You can see why, given the Croatian international is 28, turning 29 this season, and into the latter years of his career.

But perhaps Woodward will regret not signing Inter’s star player. So far this season, in three appearances in Italy, Perišić has scored twice and registered three assists. He is off to a flyer and every Nerazzurri attack goes through the Croatian.

Variance to any attack is crucial as when Plan A does not work, you can be pragmatic, as Mourinho is, and result to Plan B. While Marouane Fellaini is United’s Plan B, they needed a player to supplement him in the sense of an expert crosser.

Against FC Basel in the Champions League, when Paul Pogba limped off, Fellaini took to the field and it was clear that there was a change in playing style straight away. The midfielders were looking for the Belgian straight away and United evidently wanted to use that height advantage to full effect.

The breakthrough came from a whipped in cross by Ashley Young, who was playing at right back. Having a player with the skills to find his man and beat the first line of defence when crossing the ball was crucial. Young, on the night, was that player and it put Basel on the back foot.

However, Young is not the answer. He is 32 years old, lacking game time over the last few years and unreliable. Someone of Perišić’s ilk was necessary to be bought this summer and use as a traditional winger to beat his man, run to the byline and send in a pin-point cross for Romelu Lukaku.

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When Manchester United come unstuck against some of the teams that sit back, defend, and launch counter attacks, a variance in their play, such as Perišić’s crossing, would have been an added bonus.

Time will tell to see whether it negatively effects their campaign, but if Manchester United lose out on the title over too many draws, for example, the failure to agree a deal with Inter for Perišić could be a costly mistake.