Manchester United Transfers: 5 Midfielders Linked to Team

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Manchester United have been linked to a number of midfielders so far this season.

The current squad consists of six players comfortable in a central midfield role and that does seem like solid depth for a title-challenging team

There are certainly question marks about all six though, and while all these players bring different things to the table, they could still be considered the weak point of the squad.

Despite this, Manchester United are top of their Champions League group, on the top of the Barclays Premier League and will enter the FA Cup at the turn of the year.

Here are five midfielders linked to the squad.

Marouane Fellaini

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Early on in the season the Belgian midfielder was linked to the Red Devils and that was certainly due to his performance against the club (via Daily Mirror).

Marouane Fellaini dominated Manchester United's defensive players in the first game of the Premier League and has had a pretty solid start to the season since.

Fellaini would provide the club with a more physical threat than any of their current midfield options, but he would have no problem fitting in technically either.

The big Belgian would provide the squad with a player capable of making a major impact on both ends of the pitch, and his versatility means he would have no problem fitting into any of the formations that Sir Alex Ferguson has used this season.

Victor Wanyama

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If football fans didn't take notice of Victor Wanyama before Celtic's infamous victory over Barcelona, they surely have an eye on him now.

The powerful Kenyan midfielder put in an all-action display against the Spanish side, scoring a goal on one end and showing his defensive capabilities on the other.

It comes as no surprise that he has been linked to Manchester since that game (via Daily Mail).

Wanyama is comfortable playing in the central defense and that is certainly a plus given the clubs recent injury problems in that arena.

Still, Wanyama would, if he joined, provide a combative player alongside Michael Carrick or Paul Scholes and help provide more stability for the team as a result.

Lars Bender

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According to the Daily Mail, Manchester United have been interested in German midfielder Lars Bender.

The Bayer Leverkusen defensive midfielder was linked to German giants Bayern Munich during the summer but no move materialized.

Bender put in some impressive displays for Germany during Euro 2012 and did so while playing at right-back.

The 23-year old has become an important part of the Bayer Leverkusen side in recent seasons and has made some solid contributions defensively this season, with 4.7 tackles per game and 2.1 interceptions per game in the Bundesliga (statistics via Whoscored.com).

Ilkay Gundogan

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After taking an important player from Borussia Dortmund this summer, Manchester United could look to do it again.

According to the Daily Star, the Red Devils will battle it out with Tottenham to sign Dortmund's Ilkay Gundogan. 

Gundogan has performed well for Dortmund so far this season without filling up the goals or assists categories.

He is one of the better passers on the team at the moment, with a pass completion percentage of 84.9, and has done decently defensively as well, with 2.4 tackles and 2.9 interceptions per game in the Bundesliga (statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com).

Thomas Ince

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Thomas Ince hasn't let his fathers reputation weigh him down, and has reportedly attracted the attention of his fathers former club Manchester United (via Daily Mail).

The young Blackpool midfielder has been in good form this season with nine goals and six assists in the Championship thus far.

Unlike the other players on this list, Ince is a youngster who wouldn't slot into the first team right away, but it would still be a great signing for the Red Devils should they get him in January.