If Manchester United Doesn't Want Wesley Sneijder, Who Can They Bring In?

To be perfectly honest, I was never in favour of Manchester United buying Wesley Sneijder in the first place. A supremely gifted player, no doubt, but somehow, I have never seen him fit into a 4-4-2 formation all that well. Whenever he has played well, it has been as an attacking midfielder in a 4-3-3 or a 4-5-1 formation. United, since signing Javier Hernandez, has rarely played those formations, sticking instead to the traditional 4-4-2, or a 4-4-1-1, with Wayne Rooney operating deeper.

More to the point, United do have players who can act as playmakers, those with the capability to split a defence, or create an opening for a scoring chance. Foremost among them looks to be Tom Cleverley, the young United Academy product, who, after loan spells with various teams, is now looking like the midfield signing of the summer.

Behind him is the Brazilian, Anderson, who has a good ability to run with the ball and play beautifully-weighed through balls. The last is Michael Carrick, who has played well as an attacking midfielder when Owen Hargreaves was played as the defensive midfielder a couple of seasons ago.

Thus, from my viewpoint, United need an enforcer in midfield, a defensive midfielder who can break up opponents' attacks, rather than a creative, attacking midfielder. I didn't see the need of an attacking midfielder anyways, when you have an attacking lineup of Rooney, Hernandez, Nani, Ashley Young, Antonio Valencia, and one of Anderson, Cleverley or Carrick. The need for someone in that mould was even felt against West Browmich Albion as well, when Somen Tchoyi troubled United for some time.

With Darren Fletcher nowhere near the first team right now due to fitness and health issues, and around 10 days to go in the transfer window, who can Sir Alex Ferguson splash the cash on ? Let's find out.

Danielle De Rossi

Daniele De Rossi is the first name which comes to the lips of United fans as soon as the talk happens of a defensive midfielder who should be at Old Trafford. An undoubted talent who has not lived up to his full potential till now, De Rossi could have been far much more. Perhaps, without denigrating Roma, it should be said that he needs a bigger, better platform to showcase his abilities, and few platforms are better than the First XI of Manchester United.

A first-choice Italy international, De Rossi would fit right into United's 4-4-2 system, giving the other attackers a complete license to attack given his ability to provide protection to the back four. Also, his all-action style and the knack to arrive late in the box to score goals would make him a valuable addition to the midfield. Also, De Rossi is a good dead-ball specialist as well, though he is unable to demonstrate this skill so often due to the presence of Francisco Totti in Roma and Andrea Pirlo at the international level.

Having been captain of Roma for long periods when Totti has been sidelined due to injury, he can also act as an inspirational figure and leader in the centre of the pitch, a role which United have lacked since the days of Roy Keane.   

Marouane Fellaini

Another popular fans' choice, given his exploits for Everton over the years. It is hard to believe that Marouane Fellaini is still only 23, despite having looked like playing for Everton forever. He and Gary Neville form a formidable barrier in midfield for almost all teams who play against the Blue side of Merseyside, and has been a thorn in United's flesh for a long time now.

However, given his ability, Fellaini would fit right into a United side needing a dynamic, strong, fast moving midfield destroyer. Yes, Darren Fletcher at his peak does that, and better than most people in the Premier League, but Fellaini would be useful in games where Fletcher cannot play, fitness or health permitting.

Fellaini is also good in the air, and would provide a commanding presence in both defending corners and attacking them. His only issue is that he is very susceptible to yellow and red cards, and his frequent suspensions can be an issue of concern. Nevertheless, he would prove a valuable addition to the Old Trafford lineup, especially given his Premier League experience. He would also relish the chance to play in the Champions' League and compete for honours every season. 

Lassana Diarra

Lassana Diarra proved his mettle at Portsmouth, securing a lucrative transfer to Real Madrid. Two years hence, he is already considered surplus to requirements. However, this is not down to lack of footballing ability, but rather an unacceptability in Jose Mourinho's ranks. How Anatoliy Tymoschuk is considered above him in Madrid's hierarchy is beyond my consideration.

Anyhow, he is a proven player, destroying playmaking of the opposition without remorse across Spain and Europe as Madrid competed in La Liga and the Champions' League. Despite his numerous transfers, he is still only 26, and has already garnered a wealth of experience. His technical ability is not lagging either, and he can play box-to-box as well, though not as well as some of his contemporaries.

However, being a first choice for France is not a laughing matter, and that just goes to show how good Diarra actually is. His experience in the Premier League with Arsenal, Chelsea, and Portsmouth will stand him in good stead, and he does not complain too much about playing every week, either. An adequate number of games at United should do for him.

As of now, his transfer seems to be going through with Tottenham Hotspur, but he would choose United, should the Red Devils choose him.  

Bastian Schweinstieger

Bastian Schweinstieger has been around for so long that it's hard to believe he is still only 26. An ever present for Bayern Munich and Germany since his Academy days, he has evolved from a winger to a central midfielder of par excellence. Now considered one of the best deep-lying playmakers/defensive midfielders in the game, he is on the radar of several top European clubs. However, he has committed his immediate future to Bayern Munich.

He has been strongly linked with United though, with apparently his younger brother asking him to sign for the Red Devils. Schweinstieger has, however, opted to extend his stay at the Allianz Arena for the immediate future. He does seem open to a move abroad in the future though.

His technical skills, dead-ball ability and his qualities as a playmaker and defensive midfielder ensure that he can be a perfect fit in United's midfield for several years. 

The Other Contenders

There are several other players who could have come in and done a good job at United as defensive midfielders, or even box-to-box midfielders.

Primarily among them, who many United fans thought Sir Alex would sign, was Steven Defour. The captain of Standard Liege and a fixture in the first-choice Belgian XI, Defour is still only 23 and has proven himself to be a versatile, adept and technically capable player over the years. After all, you don't become a club's captain at 19 if you aren't good, especially at a top club in any European country. When Sir Alex sent him a get-well-soon letter on breaking his foot, many fans thought that Sir Alex was waiting for Defour to recover so that he could sign him. However, that has not happened, and Defour signed yesterday for Porto.

Another name linked to United in the last one year is Yann M'Vila, the latest in a long line of French defensive midfielders. He currently plies his trade at the French club Rennes in Ligue 1, and is supposed to be a nailed-down midfielder in France XI in the near future. Again, he is young at 22, but is technically brilliant, and prefers to play the pass-and-move game rather than the long ball game, which should suit United.

Miguel Veloso, once of Porto and now of Genoa and a Portuguese national player, was also associated with United sometime ago, especially before his move to the Italian club. A good, strong player who has a good dead ball delivery, he has not exactly stood out at Genoa, and so further interest in him has waned from the bevy of European clubs who were chasing him earlier.

Conclusion

Sir Alex has now declared that he is looking to give Paul Pogba, one of the brightest of United's Academy stars, several chances to break into the first team this season. A potential star in the making, however, the 19-year-old Frenchman is perhaps still too young for the European stage, even if not for domestic competitions.

With Fletcher making it a habit of missing Champions' League finals (for no fault of his own, of course), someone is needed with an excellent pedigree and experience to replace him in United's lineup, especially for European games.

Personally, I would prefer Fellaini, even if Everton will charge exorbitantly for him. He is the youngest among all his contemporaries, and has the experience of several years of being in the Premiership behind him. With Sir Alex looking to rebuild United as a youthful, vibrant side, Fellaini would bring in a new level of energy and dynamism to the Red Devils. Plus, his combativeness should rub off on the side as well, something which hasn't exactly happened since Roy Keane retired, and even with Fletcher at his peak.

I have listed all those who I think can help improve Manchester United. If there are other players who readers think can help United and slot immediately into the first XI, I'd be more than happy to know about them. Until such a signing is made, or Pogba turns out to be the giant in midfield United supporters have known him all along to be, I would be on tenterhooks against most sides, both in the Premiership, as well as in Europe.