I have to admit I have never understood the high rating that Tom Cleverley has acquired. The 25-year-old was highly-rated as a youngster at Manchester United and believed to have the potential to go on and become and England regular.
However, he is currently at relegation-threatened Aston Villa on a season-long loan, where he has not exactly set the world alight after failing to make the grade at United.
Abilities?
Tom Cleverley is a central midfielder, yet he is not a tough-tackler, does not seem to possess the vision of a playmaker and does not have enough skill, pace or drive to be a goalscoring midfielder. His record of zero goals and zero assists from his central midfield position really does not inspire confidence in the player.
In-demand
Cleverley must have the best agent in the world, because he has recently been linked with the likes of Arsenal, Everton and Tottenham. Aston Villa also seem to be bending over backwards to keep the bleh midfielder.
Cleverley will be available on a free transfer this summer, so I suppose that has an attraction, but his wage demands are likely to be very high.
However, if Arsenal are interested in signing the midfielder I can only think it is to fill their home-grown quota for next season’s Champions League campaign. It is certainly not for his goalscoring record that is for sure.
Proven
At 25-years-old Tom Cleverley still has time to prove where his talent lies and prove me wrong. If he does prove me wrong I will get my humble pie eating spoon out.
However, I do suspect that aforementioned utensil can stay safely tucked-up away in my cutlery drawer for the foreseeable.
What does Tom Cleverley offer?
