Midfielders
Defensive Midfield: Fabinho/Nemanja Matic
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Monaco bought the 23-year-old to replace Nabil Dirar at right-back three seasons ago. However, it was at defensive midfield where the Brazilian excelled. His physicality and extraordinary ball-holding abilities restricted him from becoming a successful modern day full-back.
Leonardo Jardim was quick to observe this and shifted the former Madrid player to a more central role.
His decision paid dividends as Fabinho was at the heart of everything positive. He was instrumental in Monaco’s title-winning campaign and was also named in UEFA Champions League team of the season. With Micheal Carrick leaving soon, Fabinho would be a perfect fit at the Theater of Dreams.
With the imminent arrival of Tiemoue Bakoyoko, Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic has reportedly decided to seek a move away from Stamford Bridge. Another reunion with former boss Jose Mourinho cannot be ruled out. The Serbian midfielder was influential in helping the Blues lift their second PL trophy in three campaigns.
Armed with remarkable defensive skills, Matic is also a very good distributor and has an eye for the spectacular. His wonder goal against local rivals Tottenham in the FA Cup semi-finals stole the show. With a few improvements in the passing department, the former Benfica midfielder can excel at Old Trafford.
Central Midfield: Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba
An incredibly popular figure at Old Trafford, Ander Herrera’s commitment to the club’s cause has seen him survive three managers under whom he’s played a variety of roles. One of the favourites to become the next club captain, the diminutive Spanish midfielder has excelled under Mourinho’s tutelage.
Herrera made a league-high 81 interceptions last season.
As mentioned above, the Spaniard’s versatility has been exploited time and again, when he’s made to play as a defensive midfielder. Behind the cute face lies an intelligent, hardworking and perseverant player who can outclass opponents with relative ease.
This very tenacity won him the club’s Player of the Year award for the 2016-17 season. Still only 27-years old, Herrera has an eternity to become one of the world’s premier central midfielders.
After an underwhelming first twenty games upon his return to Manchester, many onlookers had considered the 24-year-old to be a flop. However, the French midfielder began to showcase his talent in the latter half of the season as he was instrumental in the team’s Europa League triumph.
A guaranteed starter when fit, Paul Pogba is one of the best midfielders in the league. Having bagged a place in FIFA’s Team of the Year for 2016, the dabbing extraordinaire has already seen plenty of success.
When in-flow, Pogba is impossible to stop and will be a sure-shot contender to expropriate Ander Herrera and David de Gea for the Sir Matt Busby award next term.
