Over the last few seasons it has become more and more evident that Manchester United’s midfield is the area which needs to be addressed and yet it appears to remain untouched.
Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin, Marouane Fellaini, Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba, Fred and Donny van de Beek have all come in for varying sums of money and all had moments or patches of form but never really established themselves as first regulars.
Academy graduate Scott McTominay and Fred are the preferred partnership for the last few years now, this is less out of design more necessity in that Pogba has never nailed down a role in the team and Matic’s better days are behind him.
They functioned well during Ole Gunner Solskjaer’s tenure in a midfield that was energetic and tenacious but didn’t really control the games in which a top team should do.
The whole team was seemingly built around chaos in sitting deep and hitting teams on the counter-attack in more of a basketball style where United, who had better players in attack, would cause more damage and win games that way.
Midfield is where games are won and lost but they should also reflect what a team and manager should be, the great United teams of the past had tough players but who had great technical ability.
Looking at United’s rivals, their midfields possess a mix of strength and skill that are a big reason as to why they are so far ahead in the league.
This summer with Matic and Pogba seemingly leaving the club at then end of their contracts, it does seem a midfield revolution is on the cards. But if they go then they will need to be replaced, if United already a short at least one then they will have to get three midfielders to stock up for next season.
A defensive midfielder is what whoever comes in as manager will look for on their wish list for the summer, but they might need another type of midfielder to compliment them and/or to change how the dynamic of the midfield works.
For most positions when looking to upgrade then you need someone to be an improvement on the current player in the role they perform or a different type of player to fulfil a new role thereby changing the way that position functions in your team.
I think that United in the summer need to target two types of midfielders, one would be a destructive midfielder capable of breaking up play and moving the ball forwards if possible.
The second should be either a ball playing midfielder capable of playing the ball further forward both short and long range but dictating the tempo of a game. Or a player who can do a little bit of everything like a Jude Bellingham or Declan Rice but at a much higher level.
Now Bellingham won’t leave Dortmund this year as they only allow one star to leave each summer and it is Erling Haaland’s turn, also United will be quoted astronomical money to sign West Ham’s best player in Rice so could they look elsewhere for less money.
Aurelien Tchouameni at Monaco is arguably the best young midfielder in Europe not playing for one of the top sides and is primed for a move this summer. He is a superb, athletic player who reads the game well and uses the ball brilliantly.
Ibrahima Sangare at PSV is also a player who seems destined to make a move sooner rather than later and would also fulfil this role in the team but be well rounded enough to add to the attacking phase of play if needed.
If United want someone in to control games but also contribute defensively when needed, then surely Youri Tielemans at Leicester is someone to be seriously looked at. Proven in this league and someone who has proved against the best teams he can play at the top level, also having a passing range that our first-choice midfield doesn’t but also the ability to tackle and intercept to win the ball back for his team.
Fred and Scott McTominay will still have a place in the squad as their attributes and strengths mean they could be used for certain games and in certain situations within games. However, playing together may negate their abilities individually whereas playing with a more defensively minded player may allow them more freedom or a ball playing midfielder may ease the burden on them to find a killer pass in games.
A name known to United fans who watch the U23s over the last few years is James Garner, who is currently on loan at Nottingham Forest and has been getting good reviews for his performances this season. In the summer he will come back and try to impress the new manager at United, Garner could add depth but also be given the chance to prove he can make the step up to the first team as his passing range and tenacity could make him a candidate to play next season if he impresses.
Manchester United’s whole ethos in the last few seasons has been very chaotic on the pitch but for them to become a force again then they need to control games rather than just ride them out.
Whoever the new manager is then this will be the most pressing concern as they take the job, obviously different managers value different attributes in each position so will be interesting to see who takes the job and which direction they and the club want to move into.
But I will say that, and I mean with no disrespect that if McTominay and Fred are still the first-choice midfield next season then something has gone wrong at the club. If United want to win games, then their midfield needs to radiate calm and stability in a game rather than chaos and uncertainty.
