Villa legend backs Vlaar for move to United

 

Aston Villa legend Ian Taylor believes Ron Vlaar is the man to replace the recently departed Manchester United centre-back Nemanja Vidic in the new back-three defensive set up at Old Trafford.

Taylor, who played as a Villa midfielder from 1994 to 2003, hailed the Dutch defender for his performances for the Netherlands national team in this summer’s World Cup tournament and said he would be good enough to play for United, should their coach Louis Van Gaal decide to make a move for his fellow countryman.

“He’s definitely, on the world stage, shown he’s good enough,” Taylor told The Daily Star.

“He was in a good Dutch team and going to a good United team, I’m sure he’d settle in.”

Taylor believes Vlaar is in a great position to be snapped up by the Red Devils having worked under the United boss for the Netherlands national team, but said he would be disappointed if he was to leave Villa Park.

“As a Villa fan I don’t want him to do that (sign for United).

“I’d love him to sign a new deal (with Villa) but from a player’s point of view, he’s in a great position.

The 29-year-old centre-back has a year left to run on his contract with Aston Villa and would be up against stiff competition for a highly sought-after place in the United back-line, which under Van Gaal, has been changed from a back-four to a back-three throughout the course of United’s pre-season fixtures.

Borussia Dortmund’s Mats Hummels and Arsenal’s Thomas Vermaelen are also strongly linked with a move to the Manchester outfit; although Hummels is understood to be wanted by Arsenal, whilst Vermaelen is said to the centre of a tug-of-war between the Red Devils and La Liga giants Barcelona.