Manchester United: Possible transfer targets

Manchester United finished the season level on points with their local rivals yet this season feels as if it were a huge disappointment.

One of the reasons that United were not able to make more of an impact on many of the fronts upon which they were battling, was because of their midfield. It is very immobile and lacks consistent penetration allowing them to be overrun without an ability to scare the opposition.

The central defence is in great shape, with a great blend of experience and youth, but there is a lack of options at the full-back positions meaning that prospective centre-backs such as Phil Jones and Chris Smalling have had to fill in when needed.

With the evergreen Scholes and Giggs ageing ever more, there may be a need for replacements to be bought, especially as Michael Carrick will celebrate his 31st birthday before the start of the season.

To paper over the cracks and also to evolve with the times, I believe Sir Alex Ferguson will try to implement a 4-2-3-1 formation similar to that of Dortmund or Valencia around the turn of the millennium.

Positions Of Need

Right Back - Still haven’t found a replacement for Gary Neville and Ferguson’s confidence in Rafael might start to wane.

Left Back - Patrice Evra is in his thirties, has defensively always been suspect especially when it comes to positioning himself and with Fabio going on loan, there is no replacement in case Evra incurs an injury.

Defensive Midfielder - I think an energetic ball-winning midfielder is needed as Fletcher is indefinitely retired and as mentioned previously, our midfield can at times lack legs.

Attacking Midfielder - Someone other than Rooney is needed to pick passes on a consistent basis in the final third.

All too often, United’s attacks amounted to us pumping the ball in from a full back position and hoping one of our small attackers can reach the ball ahead of much taller centre backs. With the signing of Kagawa, we have solved this problem.

Possible Transfer Targets

Right Back

Lukasz Piszczek

Possibly one of the world’s top right backs, he has been one of the pillars upon which this great Dortmund side has been built. He is athletic, tall, experience but most importantly, he is very good.

However I do not think that Dortmund will want their team pulled apart this summer as they try to mount their first big challenge on European silverware since the late 90s.

Kyle Walker

With Spurs not qualifying for the Champions’ League, an offer to play at Old Trafford under the floodlights on a Wednesday evening might be too much to turn down for the young Englishman.

He would be extremely expensive as Spurs will not want to lose a talented youngster who is also British.

Gregory van der Wiel

The Dutchman is as physically gifted as any player in the world and is as good an attacking full back as you will find in Europe.

Defensively he is solid and is good at one on ones, though it is tough to judge players from the Eredivise. Will Ajax want to sell him? No, but most players have their price.

I can’t see us putting an offer in for any other right back, meaning that we will probably stick with the players that we currently have at that position.

Left Back

Leighton Baines

Perhaps the best left back in the Premiership last season, he can take set pieces and is dependable as ever. Would probably be available at true value as Everton cannot turn away good money for players.

Negatives are that he is not particularly quick and lacks experience of top competition.

Jordi Alba

An up and coming left back who has a very similar starting to Patrice Evra. He was a left winger when playing at Barcelona but left their academy.

After being picked up by Valencia, he was converted into a defender who is very quick to push up and join attacks. He is technically sound but may need help on the defensive side of things.

Could also be expensive, but Valencia are known as a club who is willing to sell its best assets.

Domenico Criscito

A very talented, Italian defender who can play the left back position extremely well. He is great defensively and can contribute on the attacking front too.

However, he has been caught up in the match-fixing scandal so Ferguson may deem him to be not of a United personality.

Marcel Schmelzer

Fantastic defensive full back who very rarely gets caught out of position. Possible stumbling block could occur with the German being reluctant to leave his homeland but he is hardworking and quite athletic as well as being young with a high ceiling.

There is quite a lot of choices for Ferguson but whether he chooses to buy a replacement for Evra now or later, only he knows.

Defensive Midfielder

Marouane Fellaini

Fellaini would add much need height and aggression to a squad which sometimes lacks fighting spirit. He is good on the ball and great off it, he would be a Roy Keane style, do-it-all midfielder that United have been lacking since Keane departed.

Should be available and would be more than willing to come. Already has European and Premiership experience at the tender age of 24.

Can be pushed into a more attacking role, showcased best against United themselves in the 4-4 draw towards the end of the season.

Cheick Tioté

Tioté has been a wonderful player since joining Newcastle and has been the closest thing to Essien that I have seen. Aggressive player, who is a wonderful tackler and average on the ball making him just slightly worse than Fellaini in my opinion though he is very athletic.

Daniele De Rossi

De Rossi is one of the world’s best all round central midfielders. A fine player who would dramatically improve every team in the world but he would be very expensive and it is unknown just how loyal he is to Roma. Shares similar beliefs to Totti so would probably be unlikely to leave his club.

Also, he only has a few years left in his prime before he hits his early 30s and starts to decline so United would be unlikely to bring him in.

The best midfielder not at a club chasing Champions’ League glory is without a doubt Daniele De Rossi, but I think the best fit for Manchester United is probably Fellaini due to his strength and height. Any of these players would probably improve United.

Wild Cards

Luka Modric

Could be a long term Carrick/Scholes replacement, he can sit behind Kagawa with a more defensive minded player alongside him like he does at Spurs with Parker and van der Vaart. Would be extremely expensive as Spurs do not want him to leave.

Gareth Bale

Would make our team extremely direct if we had Bale and Valencia as our two wingers. Determined, hard working, athletic, technically sound; all attributes associated with United players. Again would be extremely expensive.

Robert Lewandowski

Could be a striker to partner Rooney but Ferguson will probably keep faith in the likes of Hernandez and Welbeck.

Didier Drogba

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Very unlikely but I think he would be a perfect signing for our current system. With the amount of crosses that we get in the box, it does not make any sense for a strikers to be small.

We can just let Drogba do what he does in the big games and he can have the rest of the season to himself.

Demba Ba

Athletic striker who scores goals and is willing to be a team player. Would be free but also have to be signed with a short term view given the condition of his health.

Yohan Cabaye

Could be the perfect replacement for Scholes and Carrick. He is a great midfielder who is very similar to Carrick whilst being able to score some wonder goals. Not as tall as Carrick but if signed in conjunction with Fellaini, could be the start of something special.

I do not think that any of these wild card signings will actually take place but Drogba in a United shirt would strike fear in the hearts of every single opposing fan (as long as it was a cup final or big derby).

Written by Dev ThakerFollow me on Twitter @devlo92

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