Two former Manchester United captains have expressed their doubts over the club’s strength in midfield, but it appears players are at a premium with deadline day looming.
United have signed Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane to aid their push for a first Premier League title since 2013, but Roy Keane and Gary Neville fear the addition of a centre-back and winger is not enough.
“I still have my doubts,” Keane said on Neville’s The Overlap. “The couple of signings they have made have been fantastic and there’s no doubting the quality they’ve brought in but I’m still worried about the middle of the park.
“There’s talk of them moving to a 4-3-3, but the middle of the park in that No 6 role worries me. People talk about recruitment at clubs and it’s also about shifting people on. Sometimes you are waiting for a couple of players to go out as United have a lot of players in the background.”
Neville added: “I do share the concern in midfield but they’re not going to spend another £70m on a world-class holding midfielder. Their business is done but it is a problem. United have signed Sancho and Varane who are good signings but I still don’t think it’s enough.”
These comments were made before the Premier League started, and while United got off to the perfect start with a 5-1 win over Leeds, Keane echoed his concerns after the 1-1 draw at Southampton.
Fred started both of those matches in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Scott McTominay and Nemanja Matic both handed one start apiece, but despite having three options for two spots – and potentially even just one if United switch to a 4-3-3 – manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reportedly in the market for a holding midfielder who can dictate play.
With that in mind – and following the news McTominay has had surgery on a groin injury – we look at five names who have been linked with United, and consider what chance the club have of making a last-gasp move in this transfer market…
Declan Rice
The West Ham midfielder has emerged as an England regular, starting every Euro 2020 match after a season where he was instrumental in helping the Hammers finish sixth and qualify for the Europa League.
With a contract running until 2024, and the option of an extra year, Rice will not go for cheap, with West Ham manager David Moyes claiming back in March that his player is worth more than £100m.
According to the Independent, Solskjaer wants to move for Rice this transfer window, with the player said to be keen also, but the price tag and contract length means United may have to wait a year.
Yves Bissouma
The Independent report also identified Bissouma as an option, although once more it would be a stretch to sign the Brighton midfielder before the window closes.
Only Luke Ayling (108) recorded more tackles than Bissouma (104) in the Premier League last season, while he is also confident with the ball at his feet.
Bissouma was also linked with Arsenal and Liverpool in January, and with an asset on their hands - and given his contract expires in 2023 - it is likely Brighton will wait for the right time to spark a bidding war for the Mali international. Now is probably not that time.
Saul Niguez
The Atletico Madrid midfielder has been offered to Chelsea on loan, according to multiple reports, but Manchester United are also said to be monitoring Saul, who has started his side’s opening two La Liga games.
One issue is that Saul is not really a defensive midfielder. He played there on occasion last season, but primarily played further up in a role that would clash with Paul Pogba’s at United.
Saul’s versatility makes him an attractive prospect, but the last thing United need is another Donny van de Beek scenario when their main priority should be to find a regular, first-choice, 90-minute-per-match defensive midfielder.
Ruben Neves
That takes us to Wolves’ Neves, who sits deep but has the passing attributes Solskjaer is reportedly after.
Neves was sixth for tackles (86) in the Premier League last season, and also 16th for most passes (1,979), while five goals outlined his ability to contribute in attack as well.
The 24-year-old’s contract runs out in 2024, and so – like West Ham – the ball is in Wolves’ court, with the Midlands club able to set their price and hope United meet it in the coming days if indeed Solskjaer does identify Neves as the solution.
Eduardo Camavinga
Despite being only 18, the Rennes midfielder has years under his belt of being linked with a host of major European clubs, including Real Madrid and PSG.
The youngest player to represent France for over a century is destined for a big-money move one day, having played a starring role as Rennes finished sixth in Ligue 1 last season.
Camavinga was ninth for average tackles per game in Ligue 1 last season, but down at 66th for average passes, highlighting that he is perhaps not the ball-playing midfielder Solskjaer is after.
With his contract expiring in 2022 however, Camavinga is an enticing prospect, and if he is not signed this summer he will not be short of contract offers as the season progresses.
It’s up to United to decide whether they pounce now or potentially battle Real and PSG for the teenager next year.
Prediction
There are mere days to go before the transfer window closes. It is unlikely United will find more than £100m to sign Rice, while Brighton and Wolves will be unwilling to sell Bissouma and Neves so late into August – especially if they cannot recruit themselves.
Having left it desperately late, a potential loan move for Saul could be the most likely outcome for United. It may create more problems than it solves, but this temporary fix may be the go-to option, especially with McTominay’s return date up in the air.
At the very least, expect another name or two to crop up on deadline day if United have not already signed someone. Marouane Fellaini, anyone?
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3muRZ8e
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