Director will ‘fight’ to stop Manchester United signing his £87m star

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Valencia will ‘put up a fight’ if Manchester United try to lure Spain U21 international Javi Guerra to the Premier League during the January transfer window, the La Liga club’s sporting director promises.

Whoever gets the nod to take over as Manchester United’s new director of football – be it a Paul Mitchell, a Lee Congerton, a Dougie Freedman or even a Paolo Maldini – you can expect to see players of Javi Guerra’s ilk linked with a great deal of regularity over the coming months.

Guerra is, after all, a signing typical of Mitchell, Freedman and co. He is just 20 years of age but boasts a wealth of first-team experience under his belt. He is supremely gifted from a technical standpoint but hard-working too, and simply overflowing with potential.

According to Marca, the Valencia academy graduate has been watched by Manchester United this season, alongside fellow midfield whizzkids Arthur Vermeeren (Royal Antwerp) and Joao Neves (Benfica).

But while Valencia may have a reputation for being something of a selling club, you won’t find Guerra sitting in the shop window with a ‘for sale’ sticker slapped on his head.

Manchester United eye Javi Guerra

“We can put up a fight,” Los Che chief Miguel Angel Corona tells Relevo. “And it is not just about us. Javi identifies (with our club). He is happy here, aware that his career is still young. And that the only thing he thinks about, I feel, is enjoying every week wearing the Valencia shirt,”

“For the future, we want to have the best possible squad, and he is giving us a lot. His contract is also long.

“Our idea is that there are no exits that could weaken us.”

Guerra has an £87 million release clause in his contract. The Spain U21 playmaker has three goals in just 11 La Liga starts this season from his deep-lying midfielder role. Guerra’s elegant stride, his balletic ball-carrying and his floppy mop of brown hair, meanwhile, have drawn comparisons with former Ballon D’Or winner Kaka.

‘Better than Kaka’

“There is something he has better than Kaka,” Valencia icon David Albelda tells Cadena Cope. “Which is defensive work-rate. Javi does it. He has a brutal physical potential.

“Javi Guerra, apart from everything he gives you and his scoring ability, is nice to watch for a fan. He is tall, fast, can dribble, and can run back and forth. He is very interesting.

“Both for us and – unfortunately – for the big teams.”