Five reasons Manchester United should sign Thomas Ince

Here is a look at five reasons they should push ahead with the deal in January.

United don't have a left winger quite like him

Ince is fast, unpredictable, and a nightmare for defenders. Remind you of anyone? Yes Antonio Valencia is near the finished article on the right. On the left, Ashley Young is a different type of player, and one yet to entirely win over United fans. The left wing was once the domain of the irrepressible Ryan Giggs, but the Welshman finds himself playing more infield now. Ince is direct and would offer the club something different, and at 20 is only going to get better.

He is young and English

Watching England last night, it was clear the quarter of Rooney, Welbeck, Cleverley and Carrick were benefiting from knowing each others games. They very much are the future for club and country, and Manchester United are going to reap the main rewards. Add Ince into that mix, and the Red Devils are only going to get better. His manager Ian Holloway maintains Ince is good enough to play for England already, 

Buying now could save money later

United have a frustrating habit of leaving it late to secure their transfer targets. They Michael Carrick for £18 million in 2006 when they could have bough him for £3.5 million two years earlier. Dimitar Berbatov likewise they paid £30 million for when he was available for £10 million two summers prior. At 20, his price is only going to rise if his career progresses, and the club should buy him now while he is valued at around £7 million, before his price doubles. They acted quickly on Nick Powell, so perhaps they have learned their lesson.

Sign him or face him

Ince is destined for the top, that much is clear. So if United don't swoop for him, there is every chance one of their rivals will, and he will come back to bite them. We saw this with Gareth Bale recently. United were linked with signing the Welshman from Southampton but decided not to, and he ended up with Spurs, where he is now a genuine top class star, leading the North London club to a thrilling win at Old Trafford last month. Ince will strengthen a rival club if he signs, so this alone would be reason to sign him up.

The family connection

It would be quite remarkable if Ryan Giggs long-term replacement panned out to be the son of his once best pal. Ryan Giggs and Paul Ince became famed for their goal celebrations in the mid-90s, as part of the club's double winning team. Paul Ince may have upset a few United fans with his switch to Liverpool, but he can get back in their good books by advising his son to move to Old Trafford. In a recent interview, Thomas Ince said one of his best memories was lining up in the tunnel as a young boy at Old Trafford ahead of a game, and it would be an astounding story if he were to do it for real in a Manchester United shirt as a player.

What do you think? Should United go for Ince?

images: © Bart_68, © Gordon Flood