Scouting Rumoured Manchester United Transfer Target Claudio Marchisio

Paul Scholes has retired. The King is dead. Manchester United are now hunting for an heir.

David Moyes' most crucial task this summer is to recruit an intelligent central midfielder. According to the Mirror, Moyes has identified Juventus' Claudio Marchisio as a potential target and is lining up a £24 million move. 

The suggestions are that Marchisio would be interested in a possible transfer. Upon hearing reports of United's interest, the player told the Mirror:

"

I've heard that I might not be so valuable to Juve any more.

I've not been told anything by the club or received any offers and I need to speak to Juve to see if I am still an important player for them.

If that's not the case, it will be normal to look at other teams. It is not only down to me - it has to be the club as well.

So far, I do not know but if I get offers from Manchester United, or Monaco, I would be very proud.

We will discover the truth after the Confederations Cup.

"

The Confederations Cup will be over by the end of June, at which point Marchisio could face a difficult decision about his future. His comments could be interpreted as the posturing of a disgruntled player negotiating a new contract. Equally, they could be a forewarning of an impending farewell.

For Juventus, the loss of Marchisio would be difficult to contemplate.

When the Turin giants were relegated to Serie B in 2006, Marchisio was one of the young talents entrusted to guide the club back to the top flight of Italian football. Juventus consequently cantered back in to Serie A with Marchisio seeing off competition from Tiago, Momo Sissoko and Christian Poulsen to become a key player.

He didn’t stop there. Marchisio was a crucial part of the team that got Juventus back into the Champions League and ultimately to consecutive Serie A titles in 2012 and 2013.

This latest incarnation of the Juventus side is managed by former stalwart Antonio Conte. Conte paid Marchisio quite the compliment when he described the midfielder in FourFourTwo magazine as “like me, only better.”

Conte is a legend at Juventus. If he resists the advances of United, Marchisio could yet be too.

Marchisio is not ordinarily a player to make headlines. Like Scholes, he is more interested in serving the team than chasing individual glory.

In Juventus’ current midfield he often operates as the link man between the strolling Andrea Pirlo and the high-octane Arturo Vidal. Few players cover more ground or complete more passes. Marchisio is the oil in Juventus’ engine.

He combines the vision and technique of a playmaker with the selflessness and positional intelligence of a ball-winner. This versatility also makes him an ideal partner for any of United’s existing midfielders.

Marchisio has excelled in Serie A, but United fans will be particularly excited by his most recent performance on English soil. In a UEFA Champions League clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Marchisio was the key player as Juventus came from 2-0 behind to snatch a 2-2 draw.

The Italian created both of Juve’s goals, completed 95 percent of his passes and won possession back on six separate occasions. As if that wasn’t enough, he also covered 12,343 metres.

Watching from the sidelines, Antonio Conte smiled. It was like watching himself, only better.