New midfield is a must for Manchester United

This season has been somewhat of a turbulent year for Manchester United and everyone associated with the club. Looking in, the early season was almost a game of how long will Jose Mourinho last with the players fighting against him, the next stage was the bizarre and surprising appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on a temporary basis.This resulted in a miraculous change of form for the club on a whole and also we have seen the best from the majority of the same players who were under-performing under the management of Mourinho. Since Solskjaer was appointed the permanent manager of the club, however, there has been a sharp decline in results and performances from the same players who were targeted in the early season.The criticism that has come Manchester United's way over the course of the season has to be considered justified considering the reputation of the club and the money that has been invested in getting this squad together. Solskjaer has drawn sympathy of late with many experts and pundits quicker to criticise the players over the current run of bad results.Seven defeats in the last 10 games would certainly be considered sack worthy form for the majority of clubs and owners, but the Norwegian has shown grit and optimism through this period and conducts himself accordingly and impressively. The top four is certainly not out of reach at this stage as they are only 3 points off Chelsea who occupy the fourth spot. For the club to even be in contention for Champions League football shows how well Solskjaer has done picking these players up and pushing them forward.This summer will be crucial to Manchester United, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ed Woodward at the very top. Appointing the Old Trafford favourite on a permanent basis was a bold move when we all know the upheaval of change needed at Old Trafford. The club needs a Sporting Director, someone with a football background, someone to help the former Molde manager make brave and ruthless decisions in the upcoming transfer market.The defence of Manchester United has received criticism almost from the minute the Premier League started back in August. Jose Mourinho called out the club for not signing a central defender and from there the attention has been on that back-line. Are the defenders at the club good enough? The answer is yes, Luke Shaw has been arguably the club's player of the season, Victor Lindelof has shown his quality however perhaps he needs a consistent partner as Eric Bailly has missed chunks of the season due to injury. The right-back position has been a problem at the club for a few seasons now, that is certainly a position that needs addressing.The biggest weakness in this Manchester United team, especially when comparing it to teams of the past is this current Manchester United central midfield. The star name is ultimately Paul Pogba, the World Cup winner who draws so much attention, and ultimately since his return to Old Trafford for the wrong reasons. The upturn in the form of Pogba was staggering once Mourinho left the club and we thought this is the Pogba we expected to see when he joined from Juventus. However, his form has declined once more, looking uninterested in games, highly ineffectual and resulting in teams over running the Manchester United midfield.With the consistent reports that Pogba has had his head turned to a move to giants Real Madrid has certainly been reflected in his form of late. The club need to cash in on Pogba this summer they will make a profit on the Frenchman and it allows Solskjaer and the club to find players who will be consistent.Fred was a signing last summer under Jose Mourinho, and to be reflective on his impact at Old Trafford there has been none whatsoever. The Brazilian arrived at Old Trafford with an impressive reputation, described as a box to box midfielder with a defensive instinct. Ultimately, this signing has certainly not worked and would be at the head of the list of players that the club should be looking to move on.Nemanja Matić has been highly underwhelming since arriving at Old Trafford from Chelsea two summers ago. His lack of impact on a game is not good enough, his legs look like they are gone, he can't help cover his full-backs and even dropping into the defensive line looks a problem for Manchester United's anchorman. Matic will not draw much attention this summer as he is 30 now. His best years certainly look behind him but the club need to move the Serbian international on in order to progress.The club has youngsters who could potentially make a position in the midfield three their own. Scott McTominay is a hard-working player and despite lacking certain characteristics could develop under the right manager. Andreas Pereira has potential but needs to find his midfield role in order to move forward. James Garner, who has made his first appearance for the club under Solskjaer, is highly rated amongst the coaching staff at Old Trafford.Next season improving the midfield is a must for Manchester United, and potentially not breaking the bank to do so. Here are a few player who fit the bill:Declan RiceRice is emerging as a top transfer targetDeclan Rice has enjoyed a very productive season. The West Ham holding midfielder's consistent performances in the heart of the midfield have lauded the young man with high praise from supporters and experts alike. At the age of 20, Rice will continue improving and developing and will no doubt be amongst the best players in his position across Europe.The current England international has had a slightly controversial year, switching alliances from the Republic of Ireland to England, his controversial social media interaction, but what has to be said his performances has not deteriorated. The only match where Rice has looked slightly out of his depth and that must surely have been nerves was his international debut for England.Manchester United need a presence like Rice in the heart of their midfield. A player with tenacity, with a drive, passion and ultimately quality. His reading of the game from that central area is top quality both aerially and with the ball on the ground. He has the physicality to match up physically with other midfielders, to move across the pitch to help cover full-backs moving forward, and importantly he can drop into a defence to help cover. His ability on the ball is understated; he can move forward from defensive positions in possession and makes use of the ball at his feet, often moving forward his first thought.There has been speculation over the future of Declan Rice at the London Stadium for a number of months and with reports linking him to Europe's elite, this could be the early transfer Manchester United need to make to win back fans and show their forward thinking. A nominee for the PFA Young Player of the Year award would certainly have a huge impact at Old Trafford who must be looking at more developmental ages in their transfer policy moving forward.

New midfield is a must for Manchester United

Toni Kroos

Christian Eriksen