Xherdan Shaqiri?

Manchester United Transfer Policy: Ditch Alexis Sánchez, Sign Xherdan Shaqiri

 

 
At the conclusion of FC Barcelona's convincing victory over Manchester United in the 2011 Champions League final, I have to admit I was quite disappointed.  Not only did my beloved Red Devils lose, but I would have to wait another three months to watch another meaningful football contest.  Without a promising World Cup Finals or European Championship awaiting, I resigned myself to simply following reliably inaccurate transfer rumors.
However, upon stumbling across an ESPN commercial advertising the U-21 European Championship as the birthplace of the football's rising stars, I decided to tune into the Denmark vs. Switzerland match.
I was not disappointed.
While several Danish players including Ajax midfielder Christian Eriksen and Valencia striker Nicki Bille Nielsen played well, Swiss winger Xherdan Shaqiri simply dazzled. Repeatedly exposing the Danish defense, Shaqiri fittingly captured the game's only goal.
Collecting the ball in the middle of the field about 35 yards from goal, the diminutive Kosovan-born winger turned outside before cleverly cutting between two defenders.  After juking a third defender, he ran past three more Danes before firing a low, left-footed lazer past keeper Mikkel Andersen.
While he failed to score in the subsequent group match against Iceland, he continued to trouble the opposition and drew a fine first-half save from Iceland keeper Haraldur Bjornsson.  After collecting a deep, speculative ball on the right corner of the right edge of the box, Shaqiri moved to his right ever so slightly before cutting across his defender to his stronger left foot and unloading a menacing blast just a tad bit too close to Bjornsson.
Hmmm...Lionel Messi vintage 2011?
A 5'7" left-footed right wing who uses his excellent pace and touch in combination with his surprisingly durable frame to weave through troves of defenders, Shaqiri is the only player I have ever watched who immediately reminded me of Messi.
Yet, despite also impressing for both Switzerland's senior national team and his club team, FC Basel, he has attracted virtually no transfer interest whatsoever.
With the usual suspects (Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City) enamored by South American playmakers Alexis Sanchez, Javier Pastore and Neymar, I can't help but think that Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson could quietly sign the influential Swiss winger.
While FC Basel certainly recognizes Shaqiri's value, Manager Thorsten Fink would likely be tempted by a £20 million bid.  With Sanchez set to probably cost more than £30 million and Pastore and Neymar to go for roughly £45 million (http://blogs.soccernet.com/onthemove), this transfer would represent excellent value.
Amongst a host of other world class players at Old Trafford, Shaqiri would not be under pressure to dazzle immediately.  However, Sir Alex would certainly reward his improvement by featuring him more regularly in the first team as he did this season with Chicharito Hernández and Chris Smalling.
Eventually developing enough to secure a permanent place in the starting 11 (or as permanent a place as one can earn with Fergie's regular roster adjustments), Shaqiri would allow United to play with three attackers in either a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-1-3.

In both formations, Shaqiri would ideally emulate Messi by tearing from the right flank across the center of the pitch and unloading shots from his inside (left) foot.
On the other side of the pitch, Nani would continue penetrating opposing defenses by running from left to right before unloading on goal with his right foot.
Rooney could play as either a lone striker or a trequartista behind Hernández.
With four dynamic scoring threats in place, I would suspect that United would fare better against elite competition (Barcelona) than in years past.  Even though United would undoubtedly continue to struggle to maintain possession against Champions League rival Barcelona, the proposed front line would certainly score more goals in the counterattack.
Could Shaqiri really be the answer to defeating Barcelona?
Only time will tell, but I would expect that Sir Alex has at least considered the possibility...