Is Zoran Tosic Ready for Manchester United's First Team?

Is there room for Zoran Tosic on United's wings next season?  According to recent reports, Tosic has stated a preference to remain at his loan club, FC Cologne, if it means regular first team football for the young Serbian.  Is this something he is guaranteed if he does in fact return to Old Trafford this summer?

Tosic is a player I've always felt could make it at Manchester United. As a die hard Red Devil, I've taken a keen interest in his development since he joined United last year in January.

I watched him play for the Reserves several times and saw a player with awesome technical ability, a quick turn of pace and great set-piece delivery—not to mention an eye for goal. I never quite understood why he didn't get the first team opportunities he deserved based on those performances for the Reserves.

At that stage in his career he had already proven himself at international level for Serbia and was—and still is—more often than not in the first 11. Obviously with the likes of Ronaldo, Giggs, Nani, Park, and now Valencia, it was never going to be easy to break into the United first team.

But when it came to the Carling Cup—traditionally used to blood young talent—I really did expect him to start at least some of those matches. But Tosic found himself on the bench at the very best and would only come on in the last 10 minutes or so.

When he moved to Cologne on loan I was thrilled for him. I felt that regular first team football would provide him with the right platform to showcase his talent and start fulfilling his potential.

And guess what? He's done just that. After a somewhat quiet start to his Bundesliga career—as expected from any player moving to another league—he's exploded into life with five goals in his last five games (from an overall 12 games), including some fine strikes against Hannover 96 and SC Freiburg.

He reminds me of Arjen Robben in his very direct approach, his ability to play on both wings, and a lethal left foot from outside the box.

So can he cut it in the Premier League? It's still hard to say. My one concern for him is his height (or lack thereof) and physique. At 5'7", he appears vulnerable to the rigours and bullying of the English game and his slight frame has even earned him the nickname "Bambi."

Such factors could sway Ferguson into making a permanent deal with Cologne, but he will no doubt consider the Premiership credentials of miniature marauders Wright-Phillips and Lennon—so often the scourge of Evra—when making a decision.

I, for one, would love to see Tosic ply his trade in England and compete with Nani and Valencia on the wings. With Giggs nearing the end of a glittering career and Obertan still trying to kick-start his (he could definitely do with a loan move himself) the only other winger vying for a starting place is Park. And even then he has been shifted to the middle of the park (no pun intended) as of late.

Midfield is an area in which there is much room for improvement at Old Trafford and a frugal Fergie knows that a revitalised Tosic would save him precious pennies.