If there’s one team in the Premier League that know they have to have major reform to their squad this summer it has to be Manchester United. The one area that needs major attention is the midfield where the likes of Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera have uncertain futures at the club.
Most fans want the club to look outside to make the necessary replacements in case the two finally decide to leave. But maybe it would be wise for the club to look at the squad members they already have considering the club's recent failures in the transfer market.
The club has a variety of options that can do an adequate job of replacing the two obviously talented midfielders. Though some of them haven’t shown they can do their job, but that can be blamed on them not getting consistent playing time at the club. Others are young, but have shown tremendous potential and should be knocking on the first team door as early as next season.
If Ole and the board don’t want to spend tons of money in new midfielders then they have to look closer home at this lot who can definitely do the job.
Fred
Fred was brought in to United with a promise of great potential and one that was meant to be a mainstay in the United midfield for a number of years. But that plan hasn’t gone as expected. He hasn’t gotten a consistent run of games to showcase that he can knuckle down a spot.
In some of the games that the Brazilian has played, he has been able to show some of his obvious talents, but not consistent enough. He can be forgiven given that this is his first season at the club, but he needs to hit the ground running and give his best performances consistently.
Andreas Pereira
United fans have waited a long to time to see Andreas Pereira play for the club on a consistent basis. This season was supposed to be that season for him after spending the last two seasons on loan. He looked like he was finally ready to make the grade at Manchester United and help solve their creative problems in that midfield.
He started the season well and played a couple of games albeit in a much more holding role than what he was accustomed to. Of course, that experiment was abandoned after United’s 3-0 loss to Tottenham. It just wasn’t working out for him there and he was later relegated to the bench by then manager Jose Mourinho.
Ole Gunnar gave him a few games to play after his midfield suffered a number of injuries and as much as he tried he failed to secure a starting position. Now, next season he may have less competition and it may be when he finally comes into his own and shows United his true worth. But that can only be achieved if he gets game time.
Scot McTominay
If there’s one player that has shown he has the heart to play for the United jersey even when things are going south it has been Scott McTominay. McTominay has been the only one that has at least tried to show the United fans that someone at least cares amongst the players.
Though he hasn’t gotten much playing time this season; that will surely change significantly next season. Though he lacks natural ability, he at least tries to make up for it with passion. He also runs his socks off whenever he’s called upon and gives his all to the team.
He has also shown that he can do a better job than the other defensive midfield options that are there at the club currently. With Matic being so poor this season, Scott McTominay may just be the one player that can save United a lot of money instead of them going into the market in search of a new holding player.
James Garner
The unknown player for most United fans on this list is James Garner. But if you follow the reserve United sides then, you have a clear picture of who this young talented midfielder is.
James Garner is just 18 years old and is already being touted as the new Michael Carrick. United surely does need someone calm and who can pick out a pass in that midfield. In comes James Garner who can do that and much more and would cost United nothing. He has already been named in a pre-season tour and in a Premier League game against Crystal Palace, this season which goes to show how highly thought of he is at Manchester United.
He may not be ready to start a huge number of games at the moment, but United should play him to build up his experience. If he can bring in even half of what Carrick brought to United during his time at the club, that will be considered a success.
He obviously has potential and isn’t short of natural ability so he can easily being the next midfielder that breaks into the first team in case Pogba and Herrera end up leaving.