Manchester United: 4 central midfielders for Mourinho to target
By Tom Bogert
Manchester United should be in the market for a top rate central midfielder. Here are four for Jose Mourinho to target.
Full disclaimer: this list hasn’t much nuance to it. There’s no argument to be made for any obscure 20-year-old midfielders playing in Serbia or Poland or Russia or Ukraine or anywhere outside of the top five leagues in Europe.
This is Manchester United, folks, one of the richest clubs in the world. They can step into the transfer market and not be priced out of any player. Not one.
Last season when the Gareth Bale to United rumors were gathering real momentum, they were one of the few teams in the world that were actually financially capable to pull it off. That’s why they’re linked with every top player under the sun because no one is surprised when Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are unveiled by Jose Mourinho.
When you gaze upon their squad, there are certainly enough diamonds to form a formidable first choice XI. They’re sorted on attackers with the aforementioned new pair, Wayne Rooney, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford. They’ve bolstered the defense with the signing of Eric Bailly, now they need to turn their attention to the midfield.
If Mourinho plays his favored, staid 4-2-3-1 then he could look for another defensive midfielder to fit that formation. Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger currently occupy the space, but the rumor machine has been cranking out news that Schweinsteiger might not be of Mourinho’s fancy and could be headed out.
The players that are suggested are big money signings. United have the cash and are sitting on valuable assets. Between funds raised Juan Mata, Marouane Fellaini, Memphis Depay and any others that Mou truncates from the team, they shouldn’t be bargain hunting. Even if Ibra’s wages are certifiably mad.
Next: Nemanja Matic