Spanish side Valencia have become the latest club to join the race for Manchester United misfit Tom Cleverley, according to Sky Sports. Reports came out yesterday claiming Premier League side Aston Villa had lodged an £8 million offer but now the La Liga side have apparently entered the bidding as well. News that Valencia have entered the race will come as something of a surprise, and it was believed Villa were one of the front runners for the midfielder's signature, while Premier League rivals Everton, Sunderland, West Ham and even Arsenal are also interested in the United academy graduate. The much-maligned Cleverley used to be considered a bright talent at Old Trafford and was tipped to go on and achieve great things when he joined the club's youth academy from Bradford in 2000, and was touted to become "the next Paul Scholes". However, those lofty ambitions have not been realised with the midfielder a source of frustration among fans. His backwards and sideways passing have left many unimpressed and now it appears as though United have decided to wash their hands of the player, after notifying him that he is deemed surplus to requirements. And manager Louis van Gaal may now be tempted to sell Cleverley - who has just 12 months left on his contract - abroad rather than to one of his league rivals.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
