Ander Herrera is a divisive figure at Manchester United. Depending on which cross-section of Red Devils supporters you speak to, he is either the obvious choice for captain who embodies the battling, technical brilliance of a United midfielder. Or a liability who can neither tackle, nor shoot or pass.
But the fact the Spaniard – out of contract this summer – has this week been linked with a move to Barcelona speaks volumes. Paris Saint-Germain are also sniffing around, while Arsenal have apparently earmarked him as the perfect Aaron Ramsey replacement.
So, what does the future hold for Herrera?
BARCELONA
A dream move for any footballer – let alone a Spaniard. Is it time for the Basque to return to where his career began? The Bilbao-born midfielder played for Real Zaragoza and then his hometown Los Leones (the Lions) before leaving the pride and moving to England in 2014. Heading to the Camp Nou would not only see Herrera join arguably the best team in the world right now, but coming to Catalonia would also return Herrera near to his Basque roots.
Not to mention, not many players could turn down the chance to play with Lionel Messi before they retire – it also offers him the chance to add significantly add to his medal haul before he retires.
On the down side, is Herrera going to be a major component at the Camp Nou, or a bit-part player to relieve the main men for walkover La Liga games or unfulfilling run-outs in the Copa del Rey?
Sure, silverware – and major titles at that – are almost guaranteed. But would it mean more coming as a major factor in that success, or as a back-up to the likes of Ivan Rakitic?
Young Brazilian Arthur has slipped in seamlessly to the Blaugrana midfield alongside the crafty Croat and iconic Sergio Busquets. It’s hard enough for serial winner Arturo Vidal to get any game-time, while Carles Alena is also coming through. Too hard to see the wood through the trees.
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN
If money is his main motivation in contract talks, he won’t get a better payday than Paris. Thomas Tuchel’s squad is packed with pizzazz and promise – even if they are perennially falling short of reaching their potential.
Adrien Rabiot is set to depart this summer so there is some room in the engine room for Herrera to play a huge part – even if Leandro Paredes, who has yet to catch fire, was recruited in the winter window.
Herrera’s creativity, married to his attritional undertakings, would be welcome at a club that, although brilliant, have proven far too brittle in the heat of elite battle.
But, does he really want to go from arguably the best, most competitive league in the world, to barely breaking sweat, week-in, week out?
Of course he’d be playing in front of a packed Parc des Princes most weeks for some of the most passionate fans in Europe, alongside one of the finest midfielders in the world – Marco Verratti – and supplying the ammunition for Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, two of the deadliest footballers on the planet.
But does Goliath trouncing David every week in the league really drive a player? Champions League nights are special in Paris but there remains a mental block in this PSG side, and would Herrera’s arrival imminently change their prospects for progression? Hardly.
ARSENAL
Surely the less feasible option as both Barca and PSG are far more attractive, not to mention lucrative, options if their interest is solid. If you thought United were in a mess under Mourinho, Arsenal are just as combustible.
A lot like PSG they have major issues. In the midst of a transitional period under new coach Unai Emery, everything was going swimmingly earlier in the season. But, once a stunning 22-game unbeaten run was broken, so did it prove that this Gunners’ side remain fragile, despite the departure of Arsene Wenger. Most recently they have beaten an upwardly mobile United to soar into fourth – how’s that for consistency?
Unlike the other two destinations, perhaps Herrera feels a path to the Gunners’ first team is far less treacherous. Ramsey is off to Juventus in the summer with Granit Xhaka, Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira hardly the most totemic of players.
Guendouzi and Torreira are huge talents but are yet to truly harness their potential, and err often. Meanwhile, for all Xhaka’s attributes, he remains far too much of a loose cannon.
This might in itself present an attractive opportunity to the 29-year-old. A leader under Solskjaer and often spoken of as captain material, he may well feel it is a project worth getting stuck into. Plus, with Emery at the helm, the new skipper is sure to steer the ship back on a successful course sooner or later. Promising, but with plenty of pitfalls.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Or is the solution simply to remain where he is? After all, the spiky Spaniard has been a revelation in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s revolution at United, and perhaps this is simply an exercise in garnering financial recognition for this.
Figures released by totalsportek.com reveal Herrera is criminally undervalued by the United hierarchy, among the lowest earners in the first team. He is paid £75,000 per week – almost £300,000 less than the woefully underperforming Alexis Sanchez (£350,000).
Fellow midfielders Fred and Namanja Matic are both paid significantly more (£120,000). Veterans Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia earn more, as does Chris Smalling. Juan Mata is another, even Marouane Fellaini was paid £25,000 more than Herrera before departing for China.
It’s laughable that the error-strewn, long-term injured Marcos Rojo (£80,000) is even on higher wages than someone who – beyond the Solskjaer effect – has long been a vital cog in the United midfield machine.
This despite inflated figures, such as his 88.2 pass accuracy is 10th best among Premier League midfielders. He is second at United for both successful tackles (2.4) and interceptions (1.9) per league game, while only Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford have more assists (3).
In a season in which Smalling and Phil Jones have been given new deals, United would be foolish not to offer Herrera an eye-catching new deal, and by all accounts they are trying to come to terms.
He might well divide opinion but is still right up there in terms of players who enjoy a strong bond with supporters. He is a knowledgeable, well-read footballer who is acutely aware of the club’s history and what it means to play for United.
And he has shone in the last few months.
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