Five midfielders Manchester United could have signed this transfer window

After a summer full of disappointments for David Moyes and the fans, Manchester United finally signed their first player in the form of Marouanne Fellaini. Though not Moyes’ first choice in the market, he does provide something that the current United midfielders can’t provide, a goalscoring threat from the midfield, and also that extra steel required in the big matches.

Yet, between all these disappointments, there are several players that United could have signed easily. But for some reason or the other, chose not to target them.

1. Christian Eriksen

Why Manchester United didn’t target Eriksen is beyond my imagination. He is a like-for-like replacement for the retired Paul Scholes. The Danish playmaker is only 21, and is already a regular for his national team.

A couple of years ago, he declined to move to Manchester City because he only wanted a move to either Manchester United or Barcelona. Had Manchester United made a move for him, he would have signed for United with open arms. But that didn;t come to fruition as he signed for Spurs for a bargain.

A bargain, one that United could have made, but they didn’t. Instead of wasting time on Cesc Fabregas, a move for Eriksen would have been the easier option since he only had a year on his contract.

2. Mesut Özil

If there was a list of the best attacking-midfielders in the world, then Mesut Ozil would arguable be number two on that, only behind Andres Iniesta.

Mesut Ozil fits perfectly as a Manchester United signing. The player was for sale, he was the big name that fans were craving for, he was a playmaker, and last but not the least, he would solve the midfield problem for David Moyes and his team.

At only 24 years of age, he is already a world class midfielder, and has beaten the likes of Mario Gotze and Thomas Muller as the preferred centre attacking midfielder in the German national squad.

When Ozil became available on deadline day, Manchester United made the horrendous decision to let him pass. He went on to sign for Arsenal for £42.5 million, a club record for them.

3. Kevin Strootman

Another player from the Eredivisie that slipped through the grasps of Manchester United. Kevin Strootman has been linked to Manchester United forever. But that move never materialised, and he eventually left for Roma.

At 23 years of age, he is a regular starter for the Netherlands national team, and is a combative defensive midfielder. His style of play can be likened to that of Roy Keane. He signed for Roma for £15 million , another bargain that United could have pulled off, but chose not to.

4. Paulinho

Another Spurs player on this list. Paulinho came into the spotlight at the Confederations Cup earlier this summer. Along with Neymar, he helped Brazil win the Confederations Cup in style, by comprehensively beating Spain in the final.

At 25 years of age, he is a regular starter for the Brazil national team that is expected by many to win next year’s FIFA World Cup. He is very versatile and can play as a defensive midfielder, holding midfielder, or behind a striker as an attacking midfielder. He signed for Spurs for £17.5 million.

5. Wesley Sneijder

Many may argue that Wesley Sneijder is well past his best days, but he still is an extremely talented player. At 29 years of age, Sneijder is slowly starting to lose his place in the Dutch national team, and would have probably preferred to play in the Premier League rather than in the Turkish League in a World Cup year.