Top 5 potential replacements for Ryan Giggs

He has won every top honor there is to win, and has been collecting winners medals for the past two decades. If his explosive pace and ability to beat his man marked his first decade in football, his intelligence and spatial awareness marked his second. And now into his third decade in football, Ryan Giggs is still full of energy and is going strong.While he might not play as regularly as he did previously, his contributions are still very telling. And ever since he moved inside and started playing as a deep-lying midfielder, Manchester United have been looking for a left winger to replace him. And its fair to say that they havent been very successful so far, so here are five potential replacements for the Welsh wing wizard.

#5 Xherdan Shaqiri

Often lost amongst a galaxy of stars at Bayern Munich, Xherdan Shaqiri hasn’t had a lot of time to show the world just how good he is. He came to Bavaria after playing a pivotal part in Basel winning three-straight League titles from 2010-2012. Quick, direct and tricky, the 22-year-old Swiss forward, is highly versatile and is capable of playing anywhere across the front line, but prefers the left wing.

Shaqiri’s ability to hold onto the ball, dribble past his man and deliver a killer ball into the box make him one of the finest young wingers in Europe at the moment. Whether it is his delivery from set-pieces or from open play, Shaqiri has all the ingredients to become one of the finest wingers of his generation.

All he needs is a regular platform to showcase his skills, which Manchester United can surely provide.

#4 James Rodriguez

Touted by many as the best player to emerge out of the Portuguese League since Cristiano Ronaldo, James Rodriguez had huge expectations to live up to. And after his €45m move to Monaco last summer, expectations just got that much higher. But, with nine goals, he is the club’s leading goal scorer and his 11 assists have elevated him to number one in the League’s assists charts.

A wonderful technician, Rodriguez has an aptitude for finding space in the final third, both between the lines or just off the touchline. Whether it is via sweeping cross field passes or threading clever slide-rule balls for his team mates to run into, the 22-year-old Colombian is a magician with the ball at his feet.

His upper-body strength, coupled with his technical prowess, make him one of the most sought-after play-makers in Europe at the moment. One that United could do with, given their dearth of quality wingers.

#3 Marco Reus

Over the past few years, Borussia Dortmund have developed some world-class attacking midfielders, including the likes of Nuri Sahin and Mario Gotze. But it looks like 24-year-old Marco Reus might just trump them all. Having contributed 29 goals in his 30 starts this season, Reus is having his best year yet, in terms of just numbers.

But, the truth is that Reus is much more than what the numbers make him out to be. Although an attacking midfielder by trade, he starts off on the left flank and likes to cut inside and carve out openings for both himself and his team mates. Whilst he isn’t a traditional winger by any means, his crossing ability is there for all to see.

With his precise passing, instant ball control and acute spatial awareness of what is happening on the pitch, the talented 24-year-old attacking midfielder is well on his way towards becoming one of the most crafty and creative midfielders of his generation.

#2 Julian Draxler

Coming from a German production line that has produced some world-class attacking midfielders, Julian Draxler has been heralded by some as one of the brightest young talents to come out of Europe in a long time. Although he play anywhere in the front line, it is on the left wing that Draxler has made a name for himself with his quick feet, intelligent passing, excellent close control and long range shooting ability.

Whether it is hugging the touch line and whipping in accurate crosses or cutting inside and threading the eye of the needle with a precise through ball, the 20-year-old German international can do it all. With maturity well beyond his years, he would be a welcome addition to any side looking to add some creativity on the flanks. If Moyes is out there, looking for someone to fill the gap on the left wing, the young German winger would be the perfect addition to the squad.

#1 Adnan Januzaj

Described by Sir Alex Ferguson as a “beautifully balanced player” with “good acceleration”, Januzaj has quickly developed into one of mainstays of United’s attack this season. Bearing an eerie resemblance to a young United winger who made his debut two decades ago, Januzaj moves with an elegance and poise that would put ballet dancers to shame.

With an ability to drift through challenges, as though they didn’t exist, the teenage winger has grown from strength to strength since the start of the campaign. Of Januzaj, Gary Neville said: “I genuinely think this guy could be one of the best in the world. I think he's that talented.” High praise indeed for a teenager who only broke into the first-team this season.

With the world at his feet, and the master (Giggs) himself showing him the ropes, it certainly looks as though Januzaj has the perfect role model to look up to in his quest to become “the best player” in the world.