Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed Darren Fletcher has not returned to training for Manchester United, emphasising the hole which needs filling in central midfield.
Specifically, a defensive midfielder is required to bolster United’s squad. Owen Hargreaves was never replaced, and a tough tackling ball winner is a role each top side needs. Manchester City have Nigel de Jong, who do United have?
With Sir Alex Ferguson stating that he still hopes to move for ‘one or two’ transfer targets this summer, you can’t help but feel a defensive midfielder is becoming a pressing priority.
Here are three they could move for…
Yann M’Vila
Age: 22 Club: Rennes
M’Vila is regarded as one of the best up and coming defensive midfielders in world football, and is a regular with the French national side. His Euro 2012 didn’t go to plan, hampered by injury and the team’s attacking stars underperforming and falling out, but his reputation remains largely untarnished. Arsenal have been strongly linked, but have dithered on a move, and this could allow United in to swoop. His 38 games without a goal last season in Ligue One tells you all you need to know about his commitment to defending, while his tackling statistics would put him in the top 10 in the Premier League, above any United player. He would cost around £20 million, and Rennes are prepared to sell if they receive a bid of this magnitude, and considering his age, potential, and they way he has already broken into the French team, he may just be worth it, and at the same time they would get one over on Arsene Wenger’s side. The physical nature of the Premier League would suit his style, and he is at the stage of his career where he needs to make a step up, and there is a starting spot waiting for him at United should Ferguson push for a deal.
Etienne Capoue
Age: 24 Club: Toulouse
Capoue is another Frenchman, and one who would cost far less than M’Vila. He has been considered by Arsenal as an alternative, and there is no reason United should not have him on their shortlist either to take a look at. Barcelona were linked with Capoue’s signature in midweek, as a potential replacement for Seydou Keita. He has been valued at around £9 million, a price which may interest Ferguson, who does not like paying over the odds for his targets, Bebe aside of course. Capoue would fill a void for United, but also allow left over cash to spend on a more creative midfielder, or a full-back. Capoue scored three goals and made four assists in Ligue One next season, and like M’Vila, is at the stage of his career where a move to a bigger club would aid his development as a player. A former French under-21 international captain, he was named in the Ligue One team of the year for his standout performances last season.
Cheik Tiote
Age: 26 Club: Newcastle United
Tiote is exactly what United need. A tough tackler and a crisp passer of the ball, the one problem is Newcastle’s reluctance to sell. The midfielder has been priced at a minimum of £20 million, and you can expect Mike Ashley to attempt to push any deal closer to £25 million. Ferguson will not like it, but is it simply the going rate of a player in such demand? He parted with £18 million to buy Michael Carrick in 2006 and it paid immediate dividends, with United winning the Premier League the following season. He was excellent against United in Newcastle’s 3-0 win at St James Park in January, barely allowing Wayne Rooney a kick when he dropped deep. Tiote would offer United a solid platform from which to build their attacks, and offer defensive security to the back four. He missed games with injury and the African Nations Cup last season, and with a tournament in 2013 this year with the schedule switching to odd-numbered years, paying so much for a player who could be absent for over a month may count against him.
Which of these three should United take a look at?
image: © apasciuto
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