Manchester United: 5 Defensive Midfielders to Sign After Michael Carrick Injury

Injury to key defensive midfielder Michael Carrick represents a significant blow to Manchester United who, despite manager Louis van Gaal's suggestions, would be wise to dip into the transfer market to sign cover for the 33-year-old.

According to the club's official website, Van Gaal told MUTV that Carrick suffered a muscle rupture ahead of Saturday's clash with Leicester City at Old Trafford.

"Carrick has been injured now so he is out at the weekend. He can be important for the team but he is now injured," Van Gaal declared. "I think it shall take more than four weeks, so it is not a minor injury but a muscle rupture, I think."

With Carrick out injured and Darren Fletcher set to leave the club, per the BBC, this leaves only Daley Blind to select in terms of fit, recognised defensive midfielders.

Although the manager also claimed, via Liam Corless of the Mirror, that he is, "not interested in [signing] players, only selling," with this dearth of options in mind, Van Gaal should step up the search for defensive midfield cover this January.

Bayer Leverkusen's Lars Bender rounds off the list, but who else makes our five defensive midfielders for United to sign in light of Carrick's injury?

Christoph Kramer (Borussia Monchengladbach)

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Perhaps best known his World Cup final concussion, Borussia Monchengladbach enforcer Christoph Kramer (on loan from Bayer Leverkusen) has been in impressive form for his current club side off the back of Germany's summer success.

The 23-year-old has helped keep the club in contention for a top-four placing in the Bundesliga, and Monchengladbach have conceded just 13 goals in his 15 league appearances, including an impressive draw at home to league-leaders Bayern Munich in October.

Kramer is a strong tackler and a perceptive reader of the game, making 2.8 tackles and three interceptions on average per league  game, both more than Carrick's return of 1.7 tackles and 1.5 interceptions.

Crucially, Kramer is also a deep-lying creative threat, making 0.9 key passes per game to Carrick's 0.4.

Jordy Clasie (Feyenoord)

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In Van Gaal's search for another defensive midfielder, a glance over his Netherlands World Cup squad would not go amiss, with Feyenoord man Jordy Clasie standing out as the prime candidate.

An energetic, dynamic defensive midfielder, Clasie prowls the area in front of the 18-yard-box with determination, making 2.6 tackles and 2.1 interceptions on average per game.

Like Kramer, Clasie also makes more key passes per game (1) than Carrick, and the Feyernood man boasts a mean long-range strike.

Clasie has been linked, by Alex Crook of the Mirror, with a move to Southampton, but could easily make the step up to a club of United's calibre and would flourish alongside fellow countryman Blind.

Victor Wanyama (Southampton)

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Much of the credit for Southampton's staunch defence this season has been attributed to the much-coveted Morgan Schneiderlin, but his midfield partner, Victor Wanyama, plays a vital part.

Wanyama is a more limited midfielder than the all-round Schneiderlin and performs a more defensive role.

The former Celtic destroyer has made 3.1 tackles and 1.3 interceptions on average per league game this season.

This could be perfect for United, who are comfortable in the attacking areas with the likes of Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney and Angel Di Maria, but lack stability in the midfield.

Premier League-proven and just 23 years old, Wanyama could arguably replace the ageing Carrick entirely as a United defensive-midfield stalwart.

Maxime Gonalons (Olympique Lyonnais)

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Moving to another European league, and Ligue 1 could offer a solution for Van Gaal in the shape of Olympique Lyonnais midfielder Maxime Gonalons.

As captain of Lyon, Gonalons serves as a platform for which to build what has been an exciting attacking charge this season, with manager Hubert Fournier guiding his side to the top of the French league.

Athletic and robust, Gonalons would have no issue in adapting to the physical style of the Premier League.

With an incredible rate of four tackles and 2.9 interceptions per league game, Gonalons, like Wanyama, is more suited to a limited "Makelele Role" in defensive midfield, but would excel in this position for United.

Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen)

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Returning to the Bundesliga, Leverkusen midfielder Lars Bender would make an ideal defensive midfield signing for United this January.

Bender was linked, by Jeremy Wilson of The Telegraph, with a move to Arsenal last summer, but a transfer never materialised. The midfielder missed Germany's World Cup victory with injury.

Returning to form this season, Bender is showing just why Arsene Wenger was so keen to sign him.

The 25-year-old has made three tackles and 3.1 interceptions per league game this season, as well as scoring one goal, making two assists and averaging 1.1 key passes per game—Bender is the complete package.

Leverkusen are clearly willing to sell for the right price, given how serious Arsenal's interest was, and United must capitalise on this.

Statistics via WhoScored.com.

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