A quick overview of what Manchester United should do during the transfer window.
Players they should sign:
Leighton Baines – It seems like the obvious choice, seeing as the pair worked so well together at Everton for past six years. Moyes picked him up from Wigan as a young man who could achieve great things in the game and turned him into a creative tour de force who is now set to take over from Ashley Cole as England’s first choice left back, just in time for the World Cup next year. There’s an old myth in football that to become a great player you need to be at a top side, and while that is true in some cases Baines has proved that the status quo means very little to him as fans of most club’s would gladly see him stroll straight into their side and dispossess whoever is in front of him. If anyone knows how much he’s worth, and what to say to convince him to join United – it’s Moyes.
Marouane Fellaini – Much like Baines, Fellaini has proved that he can be an effective all rounder without having to be at one of Europe’s biggest clubs. However, the Belgian international’s departure from the club looks to have been a foregone conclusion for some time now after a January move to Chelsea fell through at the last minute, his name has been linked with a number of clubs ahead of the summer. And also, like Baines, if there was ever a major factor to play it’s part in bringing him to Old Trafford; it’s the manager, Fellaini said earlier this year that he knew how valued he was under Moyes; throw European football into the mix and you’ve got a winner. Furthermore, he can be unplayable at times, he has become a mainstay in the Belgian national team that have seen their stock rise considerably with the influx of their stars into the Premier League, he really deserves to be in a world class side.
Ezequiel Garay – This one has been on the cards for a while now, and it’s only a matter of time before it is finally done and dusted. The two clubs are believed to be close to agreeing a fee, which is rumoured to be in the region of £17million and talks between the player and the club are also thought to be at an advanced stage, with reports in the Portuguese press suggesting that Garay has already begun looking for a property in England. Garay was a mainstay in the heart of Benfica’s defence last season making 41 appearances across all competitions and has been touted as a replacement for Nemanja Vidic, who has seen his career skid to a halt thanks to injury over the past two years, and with Rio Ferdinand likely to hang up his boots next summer the Argentine international is the perfect replacement. Like a young Ferdinand, the 26-year-old is quick, clever and comfortable with the ball at his feet bringing it out from defense. He is a key man for pressing whenever the side lose the ball and is adept at making the right tackle at the right time.
Claudio Marchisio –
Alex Ferguson has said that he’s looking for more creativity, something which Moyes has concurred with, and one player that continually tops that list is Juventus’ Claudio Marchisio. The 27-year-old is seen as the ideal replacement for Nani and Anderson as both look set to move on this summer and the money from their sales could fund the bulk of the Italian’s £21 million fee. Juventus boss, Antonio Conte is keen to keep his player in place but United’s reported persistence is starting to pay off as reports suggest that conversations between the two sides are at an early stage. The Italian international has become a crucial member of both his club and international side. A good dribbler with a strong work ethic, Marchisio would add a whole new dimension of depth to United’s squad and would represent a key part of the reported re-shuffle that looks set to take place over the summer.
Areas of weakness:
Not competitive enough – United are one of the most well equipped sides for dealing with injuries and suspensions, there are two good players in every position, however, they have a clear cut starting XI and a very different reserve XI, both of which don’t cross each other unless it’s necessary. These two separate squads will be good enough to successfully defend their title this year, but it doesn’t mean that they’ll be able to compete any better in Europe.
The manager – It’s not that Moyes is a bad manager; far from it, but Ferguson is going to be one almighty difficult act to follow and whoever the new man was, he’s going to find it a tough role to sink into. Saying that, though, he probably was the best candidate and the job he’d done at Everton over the past decade has been worthy of this sort of a step up. But this is a different kind of job; the pressure will be extraordinary, the star names will be plentiful and the scrutiny will be on another level. These are all things he’s not had to deal with before so naturally it remains to be seen just how he’ll cope.
Defence – Last season United conceded 43 goals – the most out of the top four sides and their problems with personnel have been well documented. Vidic, Ferdinand and Patrice Evra are all on the wrong side of 30 now, whilst Phil Jones and Chris Smalling have had their own problems with injuries. Their arial ability also leaves a lot to be desired and it has been one aspect of the team’s style that has held them back the most – particularly in Europe.
Strengths:
Attack – United have goals in the team, lots of them! And they also have the ability to create them. In Robin Van Persie they have probably the best striker in the country right now who has hit his peak just at the right time, and even an unhappy Wayne Rooney is an asset – bagging himself 12 goals and 10 assists in the Premier League. Strength in depth also comes from the likes of Javier Hernandez, who proved that he can still be an effective hit man from the bench, and Danny Welbeck, who has now established himself as an England regular.
Dressing room influences – The club has always ensured that there has been a steady presence of players from an earlier generation in and around the dressing room. At a time when Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Phil Neville were whippersnappers making their first tentative steps into the first team, they had the likes of Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister and Brian McLair to guide them along. Now, though, they are the elder statesmen, both in the playing squad and on the coaching staff. This will be vital as they attempt to usher in a new era and sustain the same level of success that they’ve become accustomed to over the past 26 years, and it will pay for Moyes to have these sorts of names as allies in and around the dressing room.
Midfield options – Last season United enjoyed an 84% pass succession rate, managing to maintain possession for a total of 56% of their games. The personnel are of a certain quality too, that allows them to be so expansive and dynamic through the middle. Ferguson and Moyes both knew that the area is an incomplete jigsaw at the moment – the failed attempt to buy Thiago Alcantara is testament to that, but the likes of Carrick, Giggs, Cleverley, Kagawa and Valencia has a complete set of skills to utilise the best of the space.
Who should be sold:
Federico Macheda – The young Italian striker made an explosive start to his Old Trafford career back in 2009, but he has since failed to make the kind of impact that many thought he would go on to do. He has just five goals in a red shirt, albeit in just under 20 appearances, but with what’s available to the club it’s unlikely that he’ll ever get a foothold in the starting XI. Furthermore, after completing loan spells with Sampdoria, Queens Park Rangers and Stuttgart he has failed to find the net in all but one occasion, and that was back in his home country back in 2010.
Anderson – The Brazilian is actually a very handy player, though he is perhaps too inconsistent, which is something United can’t afford to have to deal with as they prepare to defend their title and make a fresh assault on the Champions League. Injuries, coupled with the emergence of Tom Cleverley has stunted the enormous potential he displayed upon completing the move from Porto back in 2007. Recent links back to his former club have been strong, and if United make further additions the centre then he can expect to be moved on at some point before September 1st. At just 25, and with two years remaining on his current deal, his resale value will still be good enough to earn everyone involved a nice slice of the pie. If he does go, he’ll have his moments in which he’ll be remembered – hitting crucial penalties in the Champions League and League Cup finals, and the flamboyant goal celebrations. Making just 22 appearances last term, a move could be beneficial for him if he hopes to book a seat on the plane back home for next year’s World Cup.
Ashley Young – Some players can do it on the big stage and others, sometimes inexplicably, just can’t. Young falls into the latter category. Most believed he’d become on of the finest wingers in the country, if not the world, upon his move to United in 2011. What made him exciting at Aston Villa has made him just a part of the background at Old Trafford, and for the first time in his career he’s had to deal with several mid term injuries. Some players prefer being a big fish in a smaller pond, and there is a case that the England man just isn’t cut out to take the step up – much like former teammate Stewart Downing at Liverpool. The arrival of Wilfred Zaha could also put an end to the 28-year-old’s time at the club as the club now find themselves overstocked with wide players. Furthermore, his place in the free role behind the front men has been threatened by Shinji Kagawa and Wayne Rooney, meaning that competition is just too fierce for him to really get a foothold in proceedings.
Nani – The Portuguese international has not enjoyed his football this term, and has let people know about it. With a contract situation that has yet to remedy itself, and a distinct lack of game time – he may very well find himself on the way out of the club this summer.With just one year left on his current deal, now boss David Moyes may be tempted to cash in on him now with rumours of Juventus being interested in taking him off their hands. Like Anderson, he’s not fulfilled the potential that once promised to be so great and his impact on the side has been hampered with injuries. However, rumour has it that David Moyes is willing to give him another chance by offering him an extension. If that does happen Nani will have to step up and grab that chance with both hands, you don’t play for United twice.