THE 2021 summer transfer window doesn’t close for Premier League clubs until 31 August, but Manchester United fans must be happy with the way their team’s business is shaping up ahead of the new season.
A deal has been struck for long-time target Jadon Sancho, who will add some much-needed creativity and balance in the wide areas. And United are reportedly on the brink of bringing World Cup-winning centre-back Raphael Varane to Old Trafford from Real Madrid.
But the most important piece of business Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could address this summer would be to add a defensive midfielder to his ranks. It’s been a position of need at United since Michael Carrick’s retirement, with Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin, Nemanja Matic and Fred all since recruited at great expense yet none adequately fulfilling the role.
It has been reported that Solskjaer intends to switch to a more attacking 4-3-3 system this coming season in an effort to close the gap to champions Manchester City. The efficacy of that approach will hinge on United’s ability to deploy a higher-calibre option than either Fred or Scott McTominay at the base of midfield.
Here are five players United could target who’d represent an upgrade on the “McFred” midfield axis.
Declan Rice
The West Ham man is thought to be high on Solskjaer’s list of desired defensive-midfield specialists, while Chelsea, the club by whom Rice was released as a teenager, are also said to be keen on the England star.
Rice impressed at this summer’s European Championship, not least in the final against Italy, in which he demonstrated an under-appreciated side of his game, seen numerous times sauntering forward from midfield and playing through pressure.
It is his ability to recover the ball that makes the 22-year-old such a prized asset, though. having developed into one of the most effective defensive midfielders in the Premier League over the last two seasons.
However, with United having seemingly allocated a sizeable chunk of their summer transfer budget to the pursuits of Sancho and Varane, West Ham’s £100m price tag could prohibit any move for Rice.
West Ham value Declan Rice at £100m. [The Athletic] pic.twitter.com/0uSsWmvdA8
— PF | Transfer News (@PurelyFootball) July 19, 2021
Wilfred Ndidi
Buying star players from established Premier League clubs is never going to be cheap, and in that regard Leicester City’s asking price for Wilfred Ndidi would likely be in the same bracket as what West Ham are demanding for Rice.
But if United do have the means to go big for a holding midfielder, the 24-year-old Nigerian might be an even better fit for the Theatre of Dreams.
If 4-3-3 is in United’s near future, that would likely mean whoever plays at the base of midfield will find themselves alongside Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba – neither of whom offer masses of defensive discipline.
So Solskjaer’s anchor man will be required to carry a hefty off-ball workload, and no one in the Premier League last season was as effective in doing the dirty work – while also remaining a reliable on-ball distributor – as Ndidi.
The Leicester man led the English top flight in interceptions (4) and tackles (2.5) per 90 minutes among all players to have played 1,000 or more total minutes.
Yves Bissouma
A more affordable alternative to Rice and Ndidi who also has Premier League pedigree would be Brighton’s Yves Bissouma.
The 24-year-old Malian international has been at the Amex Stadium since a move from Lille in 2018 and he enjoyed an impressive campaign for Graham Potter’s side last season, marshalling the middle of the pitch with astute positioning, dependable ball-recovery skills and confidence in possession.
Thought to be valued at around £30-40m, Bissouma is also a reported target for Arsenal this summer. Brighton’s recent acquisition of another defensive midfielder, Red Bull Salzburg's Enock Mwepu, could indicate a readiness to cash in on Bissouma.
Yves Bissouma led TheOther14 in Combined Tackles and Interceptions last season. @Other14The pic.twitter.com/DdvXJyMn2o
— TheOther14 (@Other14The) July 17, 2021
Eduardo Camavinga
Perhaps viewed more as the long-term heir to Pogba in the Old Trafford midfield, Rennes’ teenage prodigy Eduardo Camavinga is believed to be high on Solskjaer’s wanted list, with a move before the end of the transfer window mooted.
The 18-year-old Angola-born France international is a supremely gifted midfield player whose skillset is best suited to a box-to-box role, in which his energy and combativeness allies perfectly with a dynamism and creativity when breaking forward.
But he also has all the tools to develop into a holding midfielder, should Solskjaer wish to reshape the youngster.
Denis Zakaria
With just 12 months left on his Borussia Monchengladbach contract, Dennis Zakaria could be the perfect budget solution to United’s defensive-midfield woes.
Likened to Arsneal legend Patrick Vieira, the 6ft 3 Swiss international has stood out ever since a 2017 move to Borussia-Park for his energy, discipline and understated passing ability.
While a move for Zakaria wouldn’t break the bank, Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta are both counted among the midfielder’s admirers, so competition for his signature could be stiff.
