Analyzing Manchester United's 2021-22 Summer Priorities: Part II

In a blog post last week, I focused on right winger Jadon Sancho, and why capturing his signature is of vital importance to Manchester United going into this 2021-2022 season. However, the executives at United would do well to note that if they are to position the club in a manner to be genuinely competitive on all fronts (including in Europe) from a silverware perspective, there are a few more additions required to be made on the personnel front.

In this post, I intend to focus on the central-defensive midfielder (colloquially, CDM). A lot of United fans believe that a centre-back, or a backup right-back, or a striker, are all more important than signing a CDM. However, while there is no disputing the fact that adding quality in those positions will indeed make us a more formidable team, a central defensive midfielder is a crucial necessity, and one which could shore up the backbone of United's defensive structure, and offensive organization.

 
A moniker which has always held true through the evolution of football is 'a game of football is very often won or lost in midfield'. One of the most important elements of a well-rounded midfield is having a midfielder who is adept at breaking up rhythm of the opposition, intercepting passes, making timely tackles, winning the ball back, and recycling possession to the playmakers / pivoting midfielders. Countless elite teams have had midfield enforcers or defensive midfielder maestros, with Sergio Busquets and Casemiro being recent examples. These players shine in their understated and often ignored performances, but a careful look at the structure of the formidable Barcelona and Real Madrid patterns of play will show clear evidence of the importance that these two players have for their teams. In the Premier League, N'Golo Kante for Chelsea, Fernandinho / Rodri for Manchester City, and Fabinho for Liverpool are also pivotal to the success of their respective teams.  

In comparison, Manchester United do not have a strong, dynamic and elite CDM in their ranks anymore. With Ole Gunnar Solksjaer surprising many pundits and fans by steering the club to a measured 2nd place finish in the Premier League, signing a CDM would do wonders for a United midfield which is presently lop-sided and overly reliant on Portugese talisman Bruno Fernandes. 

Lack of personnel

A glance at United's CDM options makes for grim viewing, with United's midfield corps comprising of Scott McTominay, Fred, and Nemanja Matic who support the attacking midfielders such as Donny van de Beek, Bruno Fernandes, and Paul Pogba. 

While Fred and Scott McTominay have blossomed into Solksjaer's preferred options for most big games, their limited passing capabilities coupled with sub-standard on-the-ball attributes make them an unattractive proposition for the future at Old Trafford.

Fred has made great strides in his United career, and is a player known for his work rate and willingness to put in a shift when required. He is also extremely easy to coach, and does not stray from the game-plan set out by the manager. However, his passing and footballing IQ have often let him down. He is extremely limited in terms of picking out a pass and is known to give the ball away cheaply. Despite being Brazilian, he seems to possess little-to-no attacking flair, and is reliant on making simple, predictable, and one-dimensional passes to players around him. At 169cm, his diminutive stature makes him a liability at set-piece defending. Thus, while he is a useful player to have for the big games in terms of executing a game plan, he is not a viable option for the CDM role, which is one that requires a heightened level of finesse.

Scott McTominay is another player who has taken meaningful steps towards elevating his performances at the club. He was near faultless in the Premier League tie against Leeds United at home, which United won by a convincing margin of 4 goals (6-2). McTominay was composed, measured, and showed a great deal of skill in countering the pressing and high-intensity game of Bielsa's men. He has also shown that he has a shot in him, and has scored a few wonderfully taken long range goals for the club. Even in United's abysmal performance at Gdansk in the UEFA Europa League final, he was one of the few United players who made a concrete effort in impacting the game. That being said, his offensive potential is indeed limited. He is yet to truly elevate his passing game and is not consistent with his long-range passing. Playing in a midfield pivot, he is also often found giving the ball away and struggling to switch play effectively. 

'McFred' have been a mainstay in United's midfield | Image credit: Mirror UK

Nemanja Matic, who was once an elite defensive midfielder, is clearly past his prime. While his positional sense is still operating at a near-elite level, he has lost the pace he once had. He is also unable to impact games in a meaningful manner, and struggles to excel at what he was once truly good at. Aged 32 and coming off surgeries, he cannot be relied on as a first-choice option any longer, and has been relegated to the stray cup-game appearance, or late game substitution appearance to steady the ship and increase defensive resoluteness.

Potential options

With United's midfield severely lacking in the CDM department, a key name that has been mentioned often is that of West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice. The Englishman has had somewhat of a breakthrough season, and has been highly rated by pundits and his teammates. 

He has completed an impressive 1,371 passes in the Premier League this season, at an accuracy rate of 88%, averaging 49 passes a game. He has also made 59 successful tackles, which points towards his ball-winning abilities. Being 22 years of age, he has a minimum of 8-10 quality years of football left in him. A major benefit is the fact that he has played in the Premier League, and will have no problem adjusting to the fast-paced and physically demanding nature of the competition.

Signing Declan Rice would be a major statement of intent from United | Image credit: Bleacher Report

Declan Rice is an immensely disciplined player, and possesses the skill to pass a ball accurately. He will add much needed quality to United's midfield, and play a key role in progressing the ball from centre backs Harry Maguire / Victor Lindelof to creative midfielders Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba. This is an extremely important requirement, and has been an area where United have struggled off late. Signing Rice would provide that much needed outlet, making him a dependable link between the defenders and attacking midfielders.

With West Ham apparently planning to hold out for a fee of £80-100 million, United would be smart in exploring a deal which involves Jesse Lingard, who was loaned to West Ham earlier this season in January. Lingard has had a dream spell at the club, and finished the Premier League season with 9 goals and 4 assists for the club, despite joining them only midway. Making Lingard a part of the deal could help drive the price down, with both clubs getting what they want. However, with United already splashing the cash on Sancho, history shows that United's board would be hesitant in sanctioning a deal of this nature. Don't get it twisted, signing Declan Rice would be a major statement of intent from United, and would immediately strengthen the first team, making them a more rounded and finessed side.

Another potential name doing the rounds is that of Borussia Monchengladbach sensation Denis Zakaria. Zakaria could prove to be a more value for money signing, and is rumoured to be available for a fee ranging between £30-35 million. German legend Lothar Matthaus has likened Zakaria to Toni Kroos at his age, which is no small compliment coming from a man who has achieved incredible honours in the game. Since arriving to the Bundesliga in 2017, Zakaria has made over a 100 appearances for Monchengladbach despite suffering a long-term knee injury in March 2020.

 

Zakaria could represent a cheaper alternative to Rice | Image credit: Bundesliga.com

The Swiss midfielder has an impressive tackle success rate of 77% this year in the Bundesliga, and his 90% pass accuracy statistics point to him being a tidy option with the ball. While there will be some work involved in grooming Zakaria to prepare him for the Premier League, he is certainly a viable option for a club like United, which is lacking in the specialist holding midfielder department. Additionally, Zakaria is also capable of playing a box-to-box role and can provide an added dimension during games. In the event that a deal with West Ham for Declan Rice is proving difficult to complete, United should focus their attention on adding Zakaria to their ranks.

Contrary to popular belief, United should indeed prioritize a CDM after securing Sancho's services. It is indeed a while before the likes of James Garner make the step up into first team football. In the meanwhile, for all the talk about bolstering attacking options, focusing on the midfield engine will ensure a solid foundation for the team to build on.

Authored by: Saurav Roy