Manchester City announced on Friday that Marcus Bettinelli had extended his stay at the Etihad, and it's a shrewd bit of business that Man Utd should take note of.
Marcus Bettinelli signed a new City deal this week - United should take note
Marcus Bettinelli signed a new City deal this week - United should take note
View Image
There are only six miles separating the Etihad and Old Trafford, but Manchester City and Manchester United have been worlds apart in recent years.
United are doing all they can to bridge the gap to their local rivals, and haven't been afraid to look across the city for inspiration in their quest to reclaim the title of top dogs in Manchester. The corridors of power at Old Trafford are littered with Etihad alumni, and United could do worse than to take note of City's most recent piece of business as they look to shape their summer transfer plans.
Those curating the back pages of Saturday's newspapers were never likely to be troubled by the news that Marcus Bettinelli had extended his stay at City on Friday evening. The former Chelsea man hasn't played a single minute in City blue since his arrival, but sporting director Hugo Viana was keen to express how important a player like Bettinelli can be having triggered an extension in his deal.
"Marcus has been a really good signing for us," said Viana. "He's a top goalkeeper and a brilliant person. He's brought ideas and energy to our goalkeeping department and we are delighted he is staying for longer. It's vital for any top club to have a thriving goalkeeping department and Marcus is a big part of ours."
The role a third-choice goalkeeper can play at a club can't be underestimated. While most will be lucky to even see the bright lights of domestic cup football, let alone Premier League football, the part they play on the training pitches and in the dressing room can be key to a club's success.
There's also the worry of changing too much too soon. With James Trafford looking set to head for the Etihad exit door this summer, tying Bettinelli down for another year has ensured City's goalkeeping department won't be disrupted too much should Trafford leave.
It's a point United should take note of.
Senne Lammens has been a revelation since his signing from Royal Antwerp last summer. The Belgian shot-stopper has brought an air of calm to a position previously mired in chaos at Old Trafford, but it's worth remembering he is still just 23 and has yet to play a full season outside of his homeland.
The experience brought by his goalkeeping colleagues at United, particularly Tom Heaton, a veteran who knows United better than most, will have been massive as Lammens settled into new surroundings.
Should Altay Bayindir be sold this summer - and there's every chance he will be if a suitable offer arrives - offering Heaton a one-year deal could be a clever bit of business from United as they look to avoid an overhaul of their goalkeeping department.
Whenever United players have been asked about the impact Michael Carrick has made since his return to the club, more often than not they have spoken about how helpful it has been that Carrick 'gets' United. He knows of the pressure and the scrutiny that comes with representing United, and can pass that knowledge on to the players. Why should such values be overlooked when considering which players you want at the club?
Heaton will turn 40 in just a few days' time, and when he does decide to hang up his gloves, nobody from the United hierarchy is going to wish him farewell by reminiscing about his stellar display in a pre-season friendly against Bournemouth last summer - although he's clearly still capable of performing at a high level when called upon. It's what he brings away from the pitch that United value so highly.
United are already going to overhaul their midfield this summer. They don't want to add another department to the list.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Ross Jackson
Ross Jackson