The first signing made by Manchester United this past summer transfer window, Daniel James, has proven to be the best one thus far. The winger, acquired from Swansea City for what now looks like a bargain basement transfer fee, is the club’s leading scorer with three goals in the first four games.
United have only taken five points from the first four matches, but who only knows how much worse it might be if they didn’t have Daniel James? According to manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, James brings an elite work ethic, and his hard work makes him a leader by example.
“I think he’s an example for everyone,” Solskjaer said to the media after his side’s 1-1 draw at Southampton yesterday.
“He’s our top scorer and that comes from his personality, his habits. He’s humble, he works hard and he knows he can improve. He’s come in and made an impact ever since day one in training.”
“He made a recovery run [against Southampton], won the ball, went forward… He knows he could have scored a few more and we’ll work with him to get his quality even higher. Then we’ll have a top, top player.”
Dan James could also stand up as an example of what United are trying to do with their rebuild/a legitimate transfer strategy. For years, United didn’t really seem to have a real defined approach to the transfer market. They kind of just bought the biggest names available, and worried about system fit and role later.
Now, it looks like United are going younger and staying domestic, and while there are pros and cons to this motif, at least it’s a real plan. James looks like a true piece to rebuild around.
United midfielder and all around good guy Juan Mata praised James as well.
“[It was a] very good goal, a fantastic finish,” The Spaniard added. “He’s a very hard-working player.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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