Why Manchester United should target Atletico Madrid's Thomas Partey to replace Ander Herrera

With reports suggesting that Ander Herrera will not be signing a new contract with Manchester United and will leave for free in the summer, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs to assess the midfield situation at Old Trafford for next season. Herrera has been Manchester United’s unsung hero over the past few years.

His industrious performances in the heart of United’s midfield have been vital in the club’s tough spell over the last couple of years. The Spaniard who joined the Red Devils from Athletic Bilbao back in 2015 is one of the most underrated players in the Premier League.

Herrera not signing a new contract is a big blow for Solksjaer and Manchester United. The Norwegian manager will need to replace him with a top quality player in order to make the Red Devils title challengers next season.

Having signed a permanent contract with Manchester United a few days ago, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer has a big task on his shoulders to bring the glory days back for the Red Devils. With Herrera leaving, Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey must be on the 46-year-old’s list to replace the Spaniard.

Partey has arguably been Atletico’s best midfielder in the last two years. The 25-year-old is one of the strongest midfielders in the world. His dominating presence in the team’s midfield is one of the reasons why Atletico Madrid is one of the most solid and well-organized teams on the pitch.

He is like a young Paul Scholes

Playing in Atletico’s heart, the 25-year-old is a very hard working player. He does the dirty job of tackling and intercepting quite swiftly. He is like a young Paul Scholes, and he is quite good at scoring long-range goals.

With his powerful shots and good shooting accuracy, he is a goal threat even from a long distance. Just like Scholes, he is industrious and an all-around midfielder. He is quite versatile and can even play defensive positions when the team is in need.

Having trained under Diego Simeone, the midfielder has a very good understanding of the game and is tactically very intelligent.

Manchester United need a player to match Herrera’s intelligence in the heart of their midfield and Thomas Partey is a perfect fit for the club. The midfielder’s distribution all around the pitch will add further dynamic strength to the Red Devils.

Ander Herrera - On his way out?

He possesses great passing skills and is quick in adapting to different situations in the game. The 25-year-old can perfectly complement Paul Pogba in Manchester United’s midfield.

Partey's presence will give Pogba the freedom to run forward and be more dangerous in the attacking areas. The Atletico midfielder will also help in improving Manchester United’s defensive side.

It seems to be the perfect time for Partey to leave Spain and start a new chapter in his career. The Premier League’s quality and intensity will suit his style and help him improve more. Solksjaer’s style of play at Old Trafford will help him further develop his technical side. The midfielder is a complete package and will definitely take Manchester United to the next level.