United’s Need to Strengthen the Midfield

With Bayern Munich announcing the £21.6 million deal for want-away Barcelona starlet, Thiago Alcantara, a noticeable number of Manchester United fans were disappointed the Spain U-21 decided not to make Old Trafford his destination.

Despite initial reports indicating United to be favourites to land his signature, the introduction of Pep Guardiola and Bayern’s interest effectively killed any deal. Guardiola said:

“Thiago is the only player I want, that’s what I told them. It will be him or no one. We have many players, but we need the special (quality) that Thiago Alcantara brings.”

That being said, fans have been crying out for a solid midfield signing for some reason, and Thiago was seen as the perfect remedy.

However, Sky sources suggested that attention has once more turned to a fellow Blaugrana playmaker, Cesc Fabregas. United have made a £25 million bid for the ex-Arsenal captain, which if pulled off, would see him reunited with former team-mate Robin van Persie.

With Paul Scholes’ final retirement, the United midfield relies too heavily on Michael Carrick, and though he had a sterling campaign last season, if injured, the centre of the park looks decidedly unstable. While Carrick has established himself as one of the most able holding midfielders, he also has the passing range to operate as the side’s playmaker; however, he cannot do both.

With the likes of Anderson and Cleverley failing to make a significant impact on the first team (in the case of the former, this has gone on for far too long), and Darren Fletcher a huge liability due to his underlying health issues, David Moyes cannot afford to go into the new season with just one reliable central midfielder.

Carrick operates at his most effective when he shields the back four, using his reading of the game and positional awareness to cut out dangerous balls into the final third, then re-distributing play to orchestrate the counter-attack. Thus, it would seem prudent to add a ball-playing midfield alongside Carrick, someone to alleviate the massive amount of responsibility shouldered upon the England international.

With Thiago off to Bayern, along with German wonder kid Mario Gotze, and the likes of Pirlo and Xavi well out of reach, Moyes has clearly identified Fabregas as a player that would perfectly fit the Manchester United mould. He operates in the same vein as the departing Paul Scholes, schooled in the art of retaining the ball above all else, and crucially, if he can be convinced to leave his boyhood heroes Barcelona, he would re-establish that previously lethal partnership with Robin van Persie.

Not only would the capture of someone like Fabregas appease certain sections of the Old Trafford faithful that have called for some midfield might on numerous occasions, it would also put new manager, David Moyes in good stead. It clearly states his intent to continue the tradition of having the finest players at the club. But most of all, a player like Fabregas would add a massive amount of credibility and talent to a midfield that was at times stitched together by a 39-year-old Ryan Giggs.

But it would be of benefit if United fans didn’t pin all their hopes on one person joining; the summer transfer window is long, and the club know what they’re doing. Just because we didn’t land Thiago doesn’t mean Moyes and his staff aren’t already identifying another host of targets. Remember, Ronaldo wasn’t exactly a big marquee signing, barely anyone had heard of him, but look how he turned out.

Manchester United need to lend strength to the side, most notably the midfield, and with the pursuits of Thiago and Fabregas, Moyes has shown he is moving in exactly the right direction.