Op-Ed: Soccer: Manchester United to sign Ashley Young for $27.4 million

In a deal worth £17 million ($27.4 million), England international, Ashley Young, is set to join Manchester United from Aston Villa.

The transfer has been in the pipeline for several months now, although the 25-year-old’s move to Old Trafford is close to being finalised, BBC Sport understands. Born in Stevenage, Young signed for Aston Villa in January 2007. The midfielder’s £9.65 million ($15.6 million) price tag set a new record for the Midlands club, before it was ‘casually’ brushed aside by their £24 million ($38.6 million) purchase of Darren Bent. Young has netted 30 goals in his four-and-a-half years at Villa Park. His goal scoring ability, if carried through to Old Trafford, will certainly please Sir Alex Ferguson, especially after the retirement of Paul Scholes. Following their relegation from the Premier League, Alex McLeish resigned as manager Birmingham City, before controversially jumping ship to rivals Aston Villa. While he already has the daunting task of proving his worth to thousands of unhappy Villa fans, he must start by replacing Young, which is no easy task by any stretch of the imagination. Manchester United start their three-week tour of the United States on July 11, as they gear up for the 2011/12 campaign. They will face New England Revolution, Seattle Sounders, Chicago Fire, MLS All-Stars and Barcelona.