Manchester United Transfers: 8 Midfielders They Should Be Targeting This Summer
Paul Scholes' decision to hang up his studs after 20 glorious years at the heart of the Manchester United midfield opens up a huge void to be filled.
With Ryan Giggs not getting any younger and his personal life catching up with him, one can't predict how long the Red Devils will be able to enjoy the services of the Welsh wizard.
As Manchester United were toyed around by Barcelona at Wembley last month, one couldn't help but notice the frailties in the centre of the field.
Though it does boast of quality wingers such as Nani and Antonio Valencia, and tireless workhorses such as Park Ji Sung and Darren Fletcher, the Manchester United midfield misses that "Wow!" factor that would make them feared world beaters.
This fact will get even more conspicuous with the retirement of Scholes. United desperately need a player who can dictate terms in the midfield and play the orchestrator. Michael Carrick, the man who currently occupies that role, just isn't good enough.
According to recent media reports, Sir Alex Ferguson has all but secured the services of Ashley Young—a quality winger who can also back up as a second striker. But there's a gaping hole in the centre of the midfield that needs to be filled.
Here's a list of eight candidates who would be perfect for the job:
8. Steven Defour
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Steven Defour is a 23-year-old Belgian playmaker and the current captain of Standard Liège. He is known for his excellent passing skills and would ideally fit into the Manchester United midfield.
The Red Devils have been observing Defour for almost two years now. This fact became obvious when Sir Alex Ferguson sent him a "Get Well Soon" letter last year when the Belgian broke his foot. In fact, the man who spotted Defour was Sir Alex Ferguson's brother, Martin Ferguson, who is the chief European scout for Manchester United.
A host of European clubs are after the young lad. According to Tribalfootball.com, Defour's agent says that the Belgian will reflect upon his future after his summer break.
7. Daniele De Rossi
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Daniele de Rossi is a 27-year-old central midfielder and longtime Manchester United target.
The Italian is known for his ability to score spectacular long-range goals and can also play a good role as a holding midfielder.
De Rossi has been at Italian giants AS Roma ever since he joined them as a youth player from Ostiamare. More than 10 years of dedicated service has seen him become the vice-captain of the team, deputy to captain Francesco Totti.
De Rossi retains the ambition of, one day, succeeding Totti as the captain of Roma and this is the reason he has fended off interest from other clubs in the past, including Manchester United and Real Madrid.
However, de Rossi's 2010-11 season was clouded by controversy when the Italian received a three-match ban for elbowing Bari's Simone Bentivoglio. This led to speculation that de Rossi's future at Stadio Olimpico looked uncertain.
In fact, Tribalfootball.com recently reported that a scheduled meeting between Roma's sport director, Walter Sabatini, and de Rossi's agent, Sergio Berti, has been postponed, thereby increasing speculation over the midfielder's future.
De Rossi could be a valuable addition to the Red Devils' midfield.
6. Charlie Adam
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Charlie Adam is a 25-year-old, gifted left-footed midfielder with both attacking and defensive abilities.
Adam has had a phenomenal two seasons at Bloomfield Road which has seen him score 28 goals in 78 matches for the Tangerines. He is the main reason Blackpool were promoted to the Premier League last year and it's because of him that they almost stayed on top, only to lose out on the last day of the league.
Adam's performances last season led Liverpool and Tottenham to try and sign the Scotsman in the January transfer window itself, but Adam insisted he wanted to stay at Bloomfield Road.
However, Blackpool's subsequent relegation has opened the doors for a host of Premier League clubs to come sniffing around for Adam, with Liverpool and Manchester United leading the charge.
Adam is also looking to play in the Premier League next season. When asked about his future, he told The Sun,"My future is that I want to play in the Premier League. I want to play at the top and hopefully the opportunity comes."
Blackpool, who have resigned to the fact that they are inevitably going to lose their prized asset, are keen to not miss out financially on any deal for the Scotsman. With Adam's contract set to expire this summer, Blackpool have recently activated a clause in the contract which adds another 12 months to his stay at Bloomfield Road—thereby ensuring Adam does not leave on a free transfer.
The fuss around the former Rangers man is explicable. Manchester United fans will remember Adam's curling, left-footed free kick at Old Trafford on the last day of the season that convincingly beat Edwin van der Sar's outstretched hands.
5. Jack Rodwell
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Jack Rodwell is one of the hottest young prospects to emerge from Europe in the last two years and has courted interest from top clubs such as Manchester United and Real Madrid.
Rodwell is a defensive midfielder and can play as a centre-back too. He has also been employed in attacking midfield positions by Everton boss David Moyes.
The 20-year-old has been long admired by Sir Alex Ferguson who tried to snap him up last summer and followed it up in January where a £25million move was agreed.
However, a dip in form since then has cooled down interest from Old Trafford. With the acquisition of Phil Jones, Rodwell's appearance in red and white next season looks less likely.
Metro News says that Harry Redknapp appears to be interested in the youngster and is ready to step in.
However, Rodwell is a class act and should not be judged on half-a-season's worth of performance. Sir Alex is known for hiding his cards way up his sleeve during the transfer window and United fans will hope that this is the case.
4. Samir Nasri
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Samir Nasri has just come through a breakout season in the Premier League.
His involvement in the Arsenal midfield added fluency to it and was one of the main architects of the Gunners' persistence in the title race, till it lasted.
However, the French playmaker has become highly unsettled at the Emirates after Arsenal's inability to add to their silverware for the last six years.
Nasri has become disillusioned by boss Arsene Wenger's spending policy and wants substantial additions to the squad if he has to stay on at the Emirates. Nasri has just one year left on his current contract.
On hearing this, Manchester United have launched a sensational swoop for the Frenchman—worth anything between £10-20million, according to which publication you read.
The move led Arsene Wenger to declare that there is no way Nasri is joining Arsenal's bitter Premier League rivals. However, Nasri is yet to commit his future to the Gunners.
3. Luka Modric
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Sir Alex Ferguson is a known admirer of the 25-year-old Croatian midfielder and has already spoken to Spurs boss Harry Redknapp regarding a possible transfer.
Sir Alex views Modric as the ideal replacement for Paul Scholes but will have to test Redknapp's and Tottenham's resolve to keep the midfielder.
Spurs obviously do not want to sell their star players such as Modric and Gareth Bale, but the lure of Champions League football could see them on their way out of White Hart Lane.
Ferguson has been told to increase his valuation of £20million for Modric but, according to a source, a deal is inevitable.
2. Wesley Sneijder
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Manchester United's interest in the Dutch midfielder dates back to last year when Sir Alex Ferguson had a £35million bid rejected by Inter Milan.
Sneijder was one of the principal reasons Inter won the Champions League last year and was named the 2010 UEFA midfielder of the season following his heroics.
A product of the famed Ajax academy, Sneijder is known for his ability to deliver perfect passes (very Scholes-esque) and score from long ranges. He was even given the title of "The Sniper" for these abilities.
Sneijder is also a magnificent spot-kick taker—something United have clearly lacked since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, the Dutchman claims that he is happy at the San Siro and sees no reason why he should move elsewhere. He told The Sun,"Milan is marvellous, picturesque and full of elegance. At the moment I am very happy here and I don't see why I should leave."
However, United fans will remember that these are the exact words Cristiano Ronaldo used days before his departure to Madrid (except, perhaps, the "picturesque" part).
Sneijder's addition to the United midfield will be the ideal catalyst to elevate it to world-class level.
1. Alexis Sanchez
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Alexis Sanchez is a multi-functional Chilean midfielder who currently plays for Italian club Udinese.
The 22-year-old can play on either wing and can also be deployed as an attacking midfielder or second striker.
Sanchez enjoyed a stellar season at Udinese in 2010-11 and was central in their qualification for the Champions League playoffs. His heroics have led him to be compared with Cristiano Ronaldo and he has been more than a subject of interest for Manchester United.
However, according to The Sun, Manchester United will have to cough up in excess of £30million for the Chilean with clubs such as Barcelona and Manchester City also keen to snap him up.
But Sanchez has said that he would prefer a move to United over the Catalan giants because he would get more playing time at Old Trafford.
Smart kid!
Who Will It Be?
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The picture says it all!
Sir Alex Ferguson has quite the jigsaw puzzle at hand as he looks to rebuild Manchester United yet again, for what will be the last time before he calls it a day.
Sir Alex has already made a charge in the transfer window like none seen before.
While teams such as Manchester City and Chelsea are yet to dip their feet into the transfer pool, Manchester United have already agreed to deals in excess of £50million, with the acquisitions of David De Gea, Phil Jones and Ashley Young.
But Scholesy's blessed studs are going to take some filling in and Sir Alex will be prudent to not cough up another Bébé as he carefully solves his last jigsaw.
