Paul Scholes retirement at the age of 36 has heightened Manchester United’s already acute need for a midfield playmaker. Anderson’s inconsistency, Darron Gibson’s likely departure and Tom Cleverley’s youth means that Sir Alex Ferguson’s is desperately short of central midfield creativity. Rant offers 10 potential options, should Ferguson dip into the transfer market this summer, listed roughly in predicted transfer market value.
Javier Pastore, 21, Palermo > £35 million
Argentinian Pastore is in much demand on the back of a wonderful season in Italy. Firing the Sicilian club Palermo to eighth in Serie A and the Italian Cup final, El Flaco – “skinny” – has scored 11 goals in 34 appearances for Palermo this season. 21-year-old Pastore offers a beguiling blend of silky passing and dribbling skills and is comfortable in central midfield or at ‘number 10’. Pastore was included in Argentina’s 23-man squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup by Diego Maradona, making two substitute appearances. The midfielder is well within United’s typical age bracket but with a host of European clubs interested, including Chelsea, the asking price is now reportedly beyond £35 million.
Wesley Sneijder, 26, Internazionale > £30 million
Dutchman Sneijder failed at Real Madrid but has risen to the very top of the world game with Inter in the past two years. Sneijder was pivotal both in Inter’s Champions League win in May 2010 and Holland’s run to the World Cup final later that summer. Despite a muted season with Inter in the past year Sneijder’s price is near the very top of the market and the player earns more than £4 million net with the Italian club. Age and price appear to preclude a move to United, although Ferguson is a known admirer of the 26-year-old former Ajax player.
Luka Modric, 25, Tottenham Hotspur > £25 million
When Sir Alex talks about a player there’s a fair bet that he’s interested. Deeper-lying than either Pastore of Sneijder, Modric is the real star of the Tottenham side despite all the media plaudits for Gareth Bale. And while Rafael van der Vaart’s introduction to the Spurs side has seemingly reduced the number of assists recorded by the Zadar-born midfielder this season, Modric has become more pivotal to the Londoner’s play. Not likely to agitate for a move and Daniel Levy’s notoriously hard-nosed negotiation ensure that the midfielder will be expensive.
Marek Hamšík, 23, Napoli > £20 million
Napolitan hero Hamšík has taken the southern club to a Champions League placing this season, scoring 10 goals in 31 matches. Hamšík’s ability to break ahead of the ball is a reminder of Scholes’ youth, although the young Slovak lacks the former-United midfielder’s defensive discipline. And while the 45-times capped international falls within United’s age range Napoli’s qualification for the Champions League ensures Hamšík’s transfer is unlikely to come cheap.
Jordan Henderson, 20, Sunderland > £15 million
Named Sunderland’s Young Player of the Year for the second season running and capped by England this season, Sunderland-born Henderson is a man much in demand. Offering pace and composure, Henderson has shown maturity beyond his years, and although Sunderland is loathe to cash in on the youngster this summer a bid in excess of £15 million may force the Wearsiders’ hand. Liverpool is also reported interested in the player.
Eden Hazard, 20, Lille > £15 million
Star of Ligue 1 this season, Belgian Hazard has driven the northern French side to title glory. Creative and comfortable in a range of midfield positions, Hazard is likely to leave this summer even though the lure of Champions League football has been earned with Lille. The player’s goalscoring record is far from impressive for an attacking player but the fleet-footed player has impressed with his skillful use of the ball this season. Attitude and work-rate have been questioned though, which led to a period on the sidelines this season.
Samir Nasri, 23, Arsenal > £15 million
Contract-rebel Nasri may seem an unlikely transfer to United, especially Arsènse Wenger ruled out the prospect. However, with Nasri available on a free-transfer in a year’s time and pushing for a contract in excess of Arsenal’s typical structure the creative French midfielder is an option. Patrice Evra has openly courted the Marseille-born midfielder who can play centrally or in any wide midfield position. Missed out on last summer’s World Cup in South Africa but has performed admirably in a campaign that ended with nominations for both the Nasri PFA Players’ Player of the Year and PFA Young Player of the Year awards.
Mario Götze, 19, Borussia Dortmund > £15 million
German international Götze has the world at his feet after playing a leading role in Dortmund’s Bundesliga win this season. Lauded by Matthias Sammer as “one of the best” to have come through the German under-21 set-up, Götze is rated by some as a better prospect than compatriot Mesut Özil, who has performed so well for Real Madrid this season. Six goals in 29 Bundesliga matches attests to the player’s ability to score from midfield, while 11 assists points to Götze’s creativity.
Shinji Kagawa, 22, Borussia Dortmund > £12 million
Dortmund’s other attacking midfielder has grown into the role following the move to Germany last summer. The Japanese international, who has scored eight goals in 18 Bundesliga appearances this season, has impressed with running from midfield, pace and an ability to beat his man. Kagawa’s rise this season is all the more remarkable for being left out of Japan’s World Cup squad last summer. Dortmund may be an unlikely seller but the chance to make a large profit by ‘flipping’ the 22-year-old may still be attractive.
Charlie Adam, 25, Blackpool > £10 million
The former-Rangers midfielder is certain to leave Bloomfield Road this season after Blackpool’s relegation from the Premier League. The player’s outstanding left-footed delivery from set pieces had Ferguson lauding the Adam’s corners as “worth £10 million alone” – it led to an inevitable rash of speculation. However, the Scot’s lack of pace and a tendency to over-elaborate are serious defects in the player’s game.
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Before we go all out on the buying department, lets try playing Cleverley,Anderson and Gibson in that position….Ando is fantastic when he is on form and he is playing at home,,,he might just need a bit of games…same with the other two….Petrucci is coming up and so is Pogba and Tunnicliff in a year or two. We just need an athletic defensive mid like a Pepe kinda player(Rodwell)….
Thats a HUGE risk.
What happens if none of them have stood up come December?
Try and get someone over the odds in Jan?
No thanks
I think that Modric is the most likely player bought to replace Scholes, but even that is not certain. Wages and price would be less than Sneijder. Of the others none tick enough boxes IMO.
Hargreaves needs to be replaced also, Jack Rodwell could be a good bet for that job. He is very versatile plus has lots of 1st experience at 20.
Ferguson may well leave Carrick, Anderson, Gibson, Cleverley and Rodwell to fight it out for the place in the midfield with Darren Fletcher.
Perhaps not the best plan, but I think a reasonably realistic one with United’s squad first/potential mentality in terms of transfers.
Lots of wonderful players on that list, but realistically I think that the only two Fergie might actually be interested in to replace Scholes are Modric and perhaps Gotze. I think Ferige is looking for a replacement for the latter-day Scholes who played in a deeper position than the box-bombing goal-scoring Scholes of yore. So that describes Modric perfectly. Pastore, Sneijder and especially Hamsik probably play in too advanced a position and would overlap with Rooney. The combination of Modric and Carrick in midfield might be very nice.
Hazard and Kagawa would be great options for the left of midfield, not for the Scholes role.
After the pasting we got against Barca and Scholesly hanging up his boots, I think there’s now a good chance we’ll get Modric. It’ll probably be a drawn-out melodrama though, and eventually we’ll give Levy a fortune just as we did with Berba and Carrick.
I think by the end of the summer we’ll end up with:
BOUGHT: De Gea, Young, Modric, Varane, maybe this Argentinian lad Rodriguez
BROUGHT BACK FROM LOAN AND GIVEN A CHANCE: Welbeck and Cleverly
SOLD: Gibson, Brown, Obertan, Macheda, Kuszczak, + some other young lads
The sale of Berba, Anderson, Evans or Nani can’t be ruled out either. Gill says they’ll be busier than usual this summer, but he didn’t say whether he meant he’d be busy buying or selling…
Sounds good to me…….Likely too
I have to go for “other”, since IMHO Schweinsteiger would be my first option. He is the best box-to-box midfielder right now, of the right age (26) and I think his style of play is well suited for the PL.
I don’t think a “number 10” would suit United or the Premier League, so I think players like Pastore, Hazard and Hamsik would have problems fitting in. Sneijder has enough quality to fit in wherever the manager puts him.
All these rubbish about replacing Paul Scholes is doing my head in.
Quick question: Which of those players listed above would have made the difference last saturday? Modric? Sneijder? None!!
What we need as much if not more than a playmaker is a ball winner. THAT was what was missing the most against Barcelona. Someone who will win the ball and strike fear in the hearts of the opposition midfielders. Since Keane left and Hargo’s injury wrecked him we have been found wanting whenever Fletcher is not available.
You left out Young… who I know is no kind of replacement… but I’ve a feeling that he’s all we’re going to get.
Fabregas please
I don’t think he would have turned the tide of the match alone, but Modric would definitely have been a big improvement to our central midfield against Barca. If we’d have been able to play Fletch, Modric, and Carrick in the middle of the pitch, that would have improved our chances greatly.
I think we’ve got maybe a 50/50 chance of buying Modric. He’s basically ours if we write a large enough cheque, and there’s a much better chance of that after the total annihilation of our central midfield against Barca, which might be a blessing in disguise really because it makes it almost impossible for the club not to do something about it.
As much as any rumours have been “sure things”, the De Gea and Young deals sound really solid. Given that the club will probably raise at least £20M by selling Gibson, Brown, Obertan, Scrabble, Macheda etc., 25-30M for Modric could happen.
For the price of Modric, you could get Lassana Diarra and James McCarthy, both would be brilliant additions to our midfield, and in the case of McCarthy one who will be at the top of his games for years to come. Diarra would toughen us up considerably as well and has played in England so there will be no settling in period.
Re the youth players Tunicliffe could easily play championship next season as a loan player, he has developed really well but a season away would do wonders for him. Pogba isn’t quite as physical as Tunicliffe and will still fill out further, he could be a squad player next season but we need another midfielder.
I think both will be top players but it’s too soon at the moment.
Was anyone else thinking what a shame it is Wilshere plays for Arsenal today watching England? He is going to be properly good.
You rate McCarthy that much?
I know bugger all about him, except that he plays for Wigan.
By the way Bernie… I agree with Squiggs… I think Modric would be a decent enough signing, but Spurs would gouge the hell out of us… too much… I think we could do better with the money he’d cost.
“Badges, to god-damned hell with badges! We have no badges. In fact, we don’t need badges. I don’t have to show you any stinking badges, you god-damned cabrón and ching’ tu madre! Come out from that shit-hole of yours. I have to speak to you.”
I don’t think we so much need to replace Scholes, but find the right players to come in, to change the current system we play. I’d love to see players like Pastore and Hazard at the club, hell I’d love to see us actually linked with these kinda players. I fear we will go through a 3rd consecutive summer without making any marquee signings and will simply add adequate players that will not allow us to improve.
OH DO PLEASE FUCK OFF YOU COCK JOCKEY!!
I’VE RESISTED THE URGE WITH THIS ONE, UT YES…YOU ARE 110% CORRECT
No. He’s a crybaby. Can’t see him fitting into the MU team-first philosophy.
Talking about midfielders, are we going to lose Ravel Morrison to gang life? The court needs to set a condition that he has to stay at Fergie’s house, stay off the streets or go to jail. We must do everything necessary to save this young man. Has he gone beyond control?
Iam in the dark just as you all. Most of the quality midfielders are in the 25 to 35 million price range but the question is, are we going to spend that kind of money? Do we have that kind of money to spend on one player? But David Gill is saying that this is going to be the busiest summer spending ever. Do you really believe that? I do believe we are in for a few surprises, players coming and going.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE just stop posting here. Go somewhere else.
// are we going to lose Ravel Morrison to gang life? //
He’s got a temper. He threw a phone out of a window. Is he doing drive bys and runing the local crack trade though? No. Shut up.
// The court needs to set a condition that he has to stay at Fergie’s house //
Yes! Because Herbie Simms said so. Or maybe the ones they already set, about counselling, maybe see how this works eh? But ask Mr & Mrs SAF when you next seem them…
// We must do everything necessary to save this young man //
Why?
// Has he gone beyond control? //
Yes. Throwing phones is a clear sign of the impending apocalypse.
// Iam in the dark just as you all //
Then how the FUCK are we meant to answer your stupid questions then?
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarghetc
Thanks Herb. Its great to have someone on the inside – please update us when you are no longer in the dark as im certain you will know before all of us.
Yeah Spurs will definitely try to gouge us for Modric, and I think his contract is pretty freshly renewed too. But I do think he’s a player of real quality, definitely better than the likes of Diarra, even though he’s obviously a different style of player. Modric has also shown that he can deliver week-in week-out in the PL, which might be worth a bit of a premium.
If we were going to go for a proper enforcer type, M’Vila seemed like the right option to me. From the handful of games I’ve seen him play, he’s always looked really good and lots of potential, but that seems to have dropped off the radar completely, so the rumour was probably a load of crap in the first place.
Diarra definitely seems gettable if we want him.
i doubt sir Alex will spend big bux in the summer on any of this players….i really doubt….player we need is defensive midfielder ..since Roy Keane leave ..we try to replace him with Hargreaves but he has fitness problem ..so now we should try to sign defensive midfielder …l.diaara from r.Madrid …for attacking l.Modric perfect one but like to give chance to Anderson…
We need a ball winner more than a creative midfielder.
Giggs is our creative midfielder…..so no problem there.
But ever since Hargo and Keane have gone,there is no bite in our midfield and Fletcher,no matter how good he is doesn’t quite stir the same feelings of fear into the opposition in the same way Keane did.
What we really need is someone to replace 3-year absentee squad player Hargreaves.
Modric is the outstanding candidate. He can easily slot into Giggs’ central midfield role and he plays deep enough to allow United to play attacking players in wide positions. I can see him and Carrick working nicely together.
I agree that ideally we’d like a combative midfield player for the squad in addition to Fletch, who’s looked pretty poor since 2010. De Jong would be perfect but obviously ungettable. Diarra looked wretched against Barca, I’d prefer someone younger and hungrier – who’s happy to play as part of a squad. Perhaps M’Vila? Although he’s recently signed a new deal. Maybe the Chilean Vidal at Bayer Leverkusen?
I enjoy watching him play because you can see so much of Scholes in him
He actually drops deep and picks it up off the defence, and then plays it simple, long or runs with it (and beats people). He would be class at United. The fact he actually seeks out the ball would guarantee him a start in every game.
It remains to be seen whether or not he can become as dangerous a player as Scholes though, and score as many goals (espcially the belters)
I think if we don’t get at least one central midfielder in the summer it will be scandalous. De Gea, Young, Varane plus Modric and Rodwell would be a good summer’s business.
I would prefer Sneijder over Modric but i don’t think we will pay the price or wages. Plus Fergie already had his chance with and doesn’t want to be proved wrong. He may find the sight of paying Levy silly money for one of his players repulsive after the Berbatov saga too. Spending 10-15 mill too much not going to make it easy to for Fergie to negotiate extra funds with Gill or the Glazers when Levy digs in his heels.
If Rodwell has a good Euro 21s he may well be signed. He is happy to do business with Moyes too. He would fit the United potential philosophy too. Buying 2 25 years old in one summer is pretty unlikely (Young being the first).
^^^ Very funny
Does this classify as your archetypal “come-and-get-me” plea?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jun/05/samir-nasri-arsenal-football
I don’t think we’re going to buy Rodwell, he looks really overrated and definitely overpriced. I think we will try to buy Modric, but it might not work out and he’ll be really expensive. But I seem to be more excited about the prospect of Modric than most people here — I think he’s an excellent player and would be really excited to have him in the side, he definitely would make our first choice 11 notably stronger than it is now.
I’ve got a feeling that Sneijder has peaked, and won’t hit the heights again that he did two seasons ago. The time to get him was when Inter got him for a great price, but that ship has sailed. Modric on the other hand seems really consistent, although with our luck we’ll pay huge money and he’ll get crocked long-term in his first week with us.
I think we’ll get De Gea & Young, maybe Modric, and two sort-of expensive young prospects. I saw us linked with the Swiss left-winger Xherdan Shaqiri somewhere today, and that’s a signing I could be excited about too. I really want to see someone with potential to be a proper left-winger.
Yep Shaqiri looked really good, as did Christian Eriksen when we played Denmark, both are very good prospects. I think Rodwell is too, and can play centre mid, defensive mid and centre back so is very versatile. What you looking at is potential, and he can only get better.
I really can’t see the Nasri thing happening, but if it did then surely that would mean we were selling Nani. It’s an interesting question, which would we rather have, Nani or Nasri? To be honest I might prefer to have Nasri. I think Nani has the potential to be a better player in terms of pure skill, but he’ll never maximise that potential because he’s a bit of a brainless glory seeker, and his playacting can be really embarrassing.
But I don’t see Nasri coming to us anyway. We might still sell Nani anyway, I have sort of a feeling about him.
It’s probably my own ignorance, but I’ve looked intensely at Rodwell whenever I’ve seen him play and I just can’t see what there is to be excited about. But maybe the pros see something that’s beyond me.
Nasri makes more sense than Downing and Young because he’s got more x factor and more skill and is a better player and isn’t English
He’s right footed though, so he won’t be happy playing on the left and he won’t unseat Rooney in the hole, so I don’t see why we’d spunk a shitload of dosh on him when there are more urgent positions to fill
I remember when I was at uni I used to watch a lot of Argentinian and Dutch footie very late at night on Channel 5 (early 2000s) back then I remember seeing Sneijder score some great goalsk= for Ajax and telling friends United should sign him as a long term replacement for scholes.
Sneijder would be the perfect replace for the Schole of the late 90s and early 2000s. As he plays at his best in the final third.
Considering the way Man Utd play these days I think Modric would be a better buy of the players above. Whoever they get, I really badly hope they sign someone to play in front of the centrebacks. Not seen M’Villa although he’s the one that people speak of. But I think if Utd sign Varane they won’t get anyone and will instead play him there when they need to.
On a purely personal level though I think the perfect player for ManYoo is actually Sebastian Schweinsteiger. We’ll never get him though.
btw I’d love to read something about Man Utds transfer policy.
There’s is a lot of great young creative midfieldd players out there, Man Yoo just don’t seem to be in the running for.
Does fergie just mistrust flair in the middle of the park? Sahin went to RM for £8M! Nuts.
Is he doing drive bys and runing the local crack trade though? No. Shut up
He is quite possibly, he was stopped in a car with known gang members and two pistols were found in the car.
Witness Intimidation is quite a charge for a young lad with merely a temper to be found guilty of.
I can’t see us getting Nasri… Wenger would fight it bitterly… and Arsenal aren’t Spurs.
I don’t know who is replacing Scholes but United are about to bid 25 million for Alexis Sanchez who now plays in a central attacking position for Udinese. I don’t know if Sanchez agent or club will except the bid but Sanchez is interested in playing for United. If this goes through, this will be a huge signing for United as Barcelona and Man City are chasing the player. I see United are prepared to sell Nani to Real Madrid if they come up with 40 million.
See your still reading the transfer rumours on the official United site Herbie
Player power hopefully, not much Arsenal can do as he only has one year left, If Arsenal want money for him they have to sell this summer, I wouldn’t mind him on a free next year if needed!
That Nasri quote is very interesting. Assuming it isn’t taken out of context, which I’m sure it is to some extent or other, he seems open to the idea of joining us. He fits the transfer policy and would definitely bring something to the club. He certainly wouldn’t break the bank seeing as he has one year left on his contract. Ultimately it depends on how stubborn Wenger is. He may not have a say in the matter if the new owner says ‘I don’t want this player to go on a free next season’ and/or Nasri slaps in a transfer request if United make their interest official. We’d have to tiptoe through the transfer, though, as the second we do anything that could be construed as tapping up, then there would be no chance of getting him.
According to goal.com, the Dippers have made an £18.5m bid for Henderson. Meh…
Maybe arsenal will swap nasri for Gibson?
Spurs will swap modric for bebe.
Inter give us sneijder for o’shea.
There you go, simple, don’t know what all the fuss us about…
Squigs,
I have been saying that with the players we have currently at the club what we have lacked and still lack are ball winners. And I have always suggested Diarra from Real Madrid. I love Nani to bits but I will swap him to get Diarra!! In terms of pure aggression and desire to frighten the opposition midfielders this has been the weakest SAF teams ever. I know he tried to remedy with Hargo’s acquisition but he has to go and try and get us another one. All these fancy foreign names being bandied about just don’t wash with me.
When I watch football matches these days I just look for proper ball winners with good engines and ability to pass the ball decently. The Swiss skipper on saturday showed decent engine and tackled really well but his passing was shocking. Also, he might have been helped by the tactic that gave them two sitting midfielders. He will do well in midtable PL club. If we can’t get Diarra then we have to prise Sandro away from Spurs – he will cost FAR less than Modric and is actually what we need.
By the way, Gabagool,
take a bow. Am sure Arsenal will be getting a steal for when was the last time they had a young PL winner in their team – they got a spent Silvestre. Inter on the other hand will be getting a multiple PL winner too. Infact, someone who has won EVERY club honour in England. Only problem with the Inter deal is that we do not need Sneijder.
There is no bung in it for ‘Arry so he might not like the Bebe offer.
i like this
nasri, modric and sneijder would give me an erection…esp if you had a de rossi or diarra sitting behind them, and a rooney and benzema ahead.
*cums*
do shut up herbs, Sanchez is on the brink of signing for Barca and if not them it’ll be Inter.
i bet its rooney
ffs
Nasri is just looking for more money at Arsenal, nothing to talk about there.
Sneijder wants unreality-club money, i.e. Chelsea or City (or Real or Barca, but they don’t need him).
Bidding for Sanchez means competing with the infinite chequebooks of City and others, plus this season he plays in Rooney’s position, more or less, so it doesn’t sound like our style.
Spurs seem determined to dig their heels in over Modric.
Pastore just ain’t happening, much as I love the look of him as a player. Probably too expensive, and probably doesn’t really fit into our new Rooney-centric tactics.
So where our midfield is going to come from I don’t know. We might pick up Lass Diarra, but frankly I wouldn’t be excited about that. He’s a good plain-old defensive midfielder, but we really should be aspiring to get someone who combines defensive qualities with the full package of passing and possession. He’s just not top quality, even if he does tick a positional box we don’t really have currently.
After countless seasons of a workmanlike central midfield, I want to see us show real quality there, but I’m beginning to think it’s more likely to come from some of our existing younger lads (Morrison, Pogba, Anderson?) rising to the top than from imported talent.
40m for that fool – take the money and run!
I actually think we already have a Paul Scholes replacement… Wayne Rooney…! He’s got the energy to be the box-to-box player Scholes was. His passing has improved significantly in the past 2 seasons and his long shots are as good as anyone’s in the game. Scholes started of as a striker before transforming into midfield and I can definitely see Rooney doing this.
If this is really the case, the question is if we should get a new forward to play with Hernandez. I love Berbatov and have supported him through his ups and downs the past few seasons. I would love to give him one more season to prove himself. But SAF leaft him out in the CL Final must mean something and I’m wondering if Fergie will ever consider buying a world class forward and push Rooney to become our new midfield general.
Rooney definitely could replace Scholes in that playmaker role. I’ve got a feeling that if we don’t get Sanchez then De Gea, Young, Jones and possibly Varane could be all the players we get in.
Fergie and Gill are stubborn and they might consider the central midfield 5 of Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson, Jones and Cleverley plus Rooney & Giggs to be sufficient.
According to Goal.com, we have given up on Modric as Spurs might want up to £50m for him. £50m! Levy is fucking cunt. Little man syndrome right there. Still, looks like we are now focussing on Sneijder
Link, if you can ignore that fucking bouncing tennis ball for long enough to read the article. Advert wankers – http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2011/06/15/2532448/manchester-united-ready-to-give-up-pursuit-of-tottenham-star
Reddread – nobody should quote Goal.com as a reliable source of information.
Ha! I know. I never claimed it to be reliable. Just the same as any other transfer rumour, innit.
Maybe not, but I think the point is correct… Modric is a no go… the Renties, and the Bitters are interested, and Levy will squeeze a silly price out of somebody… or he won’t be sold.
gotze and sneidjer and fernandinho top class cl players