Why Liverpool have emerged as favourites to beat Manchester United to the signature of Ashley Young

Ashley Young – Aston Villa

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ANALYSIS
By Greg Stobart | Northern Correspondent

It is not hard to understand why Aston Villa winger Ashley Young is contemplating a summer move to Liverpool.

The Reds made the 25-year-old one of their top targets in January and are now emerging as favourites to beat bitter rivals Manchester United to his signature and complete a £14 million deal at the end of the season.

It speaks volumes about Liverpool’s resurgence since Kenny Dalglish took over as manager in January that Young would rather move to Merseyside than play for the club that are Premier League champions elect and Champions League finalists.

Young has just one year left on his contract at Villa and the club hierarchy have accepted that they will be forced to sell their star man in the summer after more than two years of speculation over his future.

Manchester City made a late bid to sign the former Watford man in January while Tottenham have tried to secure a deal with Villa on no less than four occasions since Harry Redknapp’s appointment as manager in October 2008.

But in the last few months it has become apparent that it will be a straight battle between Manchester United and Liverpool.

Liverpool-bound? | Merseyside outfit are leading the race for Young

There were strong whispers within the game in February that Sir Alex Ferguson had all but secured a verbal agreement with Young and his representatives, but the interest from Old Trafford cooled since Antonio Valencia’s successful return from a serious ankle injury.

And with United one point away from claiming a record-breaking 19th top flight title, Liverpool are keen to demonstrate that they can once again be a force in English football by signing Young, who cost Villa £9.65m when he joined from Watford in January 2007.

For Liverpool, he ticks all the boxes of the recruitment profile being sought by owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) and manager Kenny Dalglish. “For Young, if he is on the market then we will be interested,” revealed director of football Damien Comolli in January.

For a start, he is cheap in relative terms due to his contractual situation and the fact that he has made it clear to Villa that he will not be extending his stay. Just a year ago, Villa valued him at more than £20m but they can no longer demand that kind of sum for a player who would be available on a free transfer at the end of the season.

This suits FSG, who were shocked by the high transfer fees and bloated contracts handed out by their predecessors and have committed to signing young and talented players who will not lose their value. If Liverpool could bring Young in for £14m, he would probably be worth £20m the day after – it makes complete business sense.

There is also the fact that Liverpool seem to be willing to offer more wages than United and would put into the shade the £75,000-a-week four-year deal from Villa that has been rejected by the player.

Make no mistake, this is important to Young. He decided against putting in an official transfer request last summer because he did not feel it was worth it for the £70,000-a-week salary that Tottenham were willing to offer him.

At Anfield, he could expect to pick up a wage similar to the £90,000-a-week earned by Joe Cole, who the club are looking to sell in the summer after a poor season following his free transfer from Chelsea in July.

Young will also know that a move to Liverpool will significantly increase his profile at home and abroad, bringing with it more lucrative endorsement contracts.

Another factor that is heavily influencing Dalglish’s transfer strategy is his desire to have a British core in the Liverpool side – and, as an England international, Young certainly fits the bill in that sense. He also has an excellent appearance record – he has played 45 times this season – and does not have a concerning injury history that would make him a waste of money or a squad place.

The Reds are desperate to add at least two wingers to the squad, with Comolli scouring Europe to find young and hungry players who can offer pace, delivery and genuine width to the side. Rennes midfielder Sylvain Marveaux is expected to arrive on a free transfer while Young’s team-mate Stewart Downing and Juan Mata of Valencia are also being closely monitored.

Liverpool’s desire for wide men means that Young knows that he will be considered a first-team regular at Anfield. The same could not be said at United, where he would have to compete with Valencia, Nani and Park Ji-Sung for a wide role.

Able to play both on both wings as well as behind a striker, Young’s versatility would give Dalglish plenty of options and his direct style would enhance Liverpool’s fluid attacking philosophy that was exemplified in the 5-2 win at Fulham on Monday night.

It is an exciting time on Merseyside and Liverpool are second in the form table behind only Chelsea since club legend Dalglish took over from Roy Hodgson in January.

Victory against Tottenham on Sunday will secure fifth place and Europa League football for next season and confirm a dramatic turnaround under the Scot.

And the feeling around the club is that Liverpool are only three or four players away from a genuine title challenge after the £57.8m purchases of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez in January.

Perhaps Dalglish is taking inspiration from his own template of the successful Liverpool team of the late 1980s. If Suarez is his Peter Beardsley and Carroll his John Aldridge, could Young be the John Barnes of Liverpool 2011?

The winger is fiercely ambitious and he knows his summer move will be a big decision. He wants to win trophies while being personally successful both on and off the pitch. As things stand, a move to Liverpool must make perfect sense.

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