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Donny van de Beek's signing was completed by Manchester United in August 2020. It waseemingly a dream move for both parties, it's fair to say that things just haven't worked out for van de Beek.
An enterprising midfielder, van de Beek made his name with Ajax, attracting attention from Europe's top clubs. Displaying excellent creativity, van de Beek developed a reputation for being an extremely impactful player.
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In over a year at the club, van de Beek has made just 39 appearances, mostly off the bench. He has yet to have an impact as well: scoring just one goal for the club.
There were a lot of questions asked early on about how exactly Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would use van de Beek in his midfield. Those questions made sense given that the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba are assured starters on their day.
Let's take a look at four players Manchester United could have signed instead of Donny van de Beek.
#4. Denis Zakaria - Borussia Monchengladbach
Denis Zakaria has quietly evolved into one of Europe's most underrated midfielders.
Representing Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany, Zakaria has caught the eye of many over the past couple of years. Signed from Young Boys in 2017, the Swiss international is highly rated by several players and pundits alike.
Playing in a defensive-midfield role, Zakaria has built a reputation for dominating the center of the park. Standing tall at six feet and three inches, he has an enormous physical presence in midfield.
Capable of breaking up opponent's play as well as finding teammates with accurate passes, Zakaria has been described by many as one of the brightest prospects in world football today.
Still only 24, he certainly has a long future ahead of him. Considering the club's lack of depth in the defensive midfield position, Zakaria is one player that comes to mind as an ideal signing for Manchester United.
#3. Ruben Neves - Wolverhampton Wanderers
Ruben Neves has exceeded expectations ever since he signed for Wolves in 2017.
In the four years since, he has cemented his place as an assured starter. One of the first names on the team sheet, Neves has shown time and again that he is reliable and consistent.
Operating in the defensive midfield role, Neves can often be seen linking up play between his defense and attack. Armed with an accurate long ball, Neves' pass-accuracy is right up there with the best at the club.
Neves also has excellent pressing skills and has shown in the past that he has a killer shot from range as well. The 24-year-old was linked to a couple of clubs in the summer, but a move failed to materialize for the Portuguese midfielder.
With United's lack of quality in the defensive midfielder role, Neves seems like the ideal player for Manchester United. Had he signed, he would most likely have replaced Fred in the current starting line-up.
#2. Yves Bissouma - Brighton & Hove Albion
Yves Bissouma has quickly risen to fame as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
Representing Brighton and Hove Albion, he proved to be a crucial figure in Graham Potter's setup. Bissouma can often be seen making crucial interceptions and tackles, recovering the ball from the opposition.
His numbers from last season are truly impressive: No player has managed more tackles and interceptions than Bissouma during the 2020-21 season, cementing his place as one of the league's premier midfielders.
The 25-year-old has carried his form into this season as well, as no player has a better tackle success rate.
Brighton have faced serious interest from the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal this summer but managed to keep Bissouma at the club.
With the January transfer window only three months away, there is no doubt the club will receive several more offers for the Malian. Manchester United will have a big task ahead of them should they opt to sign Bissouma.
#1. Declan Rice - West Ham United
Declan Rice is widely rated as one of the best midfielders in England.
The West Ham United player has enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame with the London outfit, even taking the post of vice-captain at such a young age. Rice possesses excellent pressing skills and also has a high passing accuracy rate.
Primarily a defensive midfielder, Rice has all the attributes of a world-class player. He was a starter for England at UEFA Euro 2020 and took his chance with aplomb, enabling them to reach the finals of the tournament.
Still only 22, the young Englishman is certainly in high demand. Chelsea have been quite vocal about their interest in the youngster and almost looked set to sign Rice over the summer.
Rice embodies the typical Manchester United player: he is young, English and bursting with promise. His leadership and footballing skills are right up there with the best. There is no doubt the 22-year-old will go on to play for a bigger club in the coming years and United would certainly benefit greatly from his addition.
