24 Apr 2015 11:05:01
Its been an interesting season and looks likely to be an interesting summer too. What I find interesting is that we have been linked to some players to the extent that it seems almost a forgone conclusion that they will sign, players such as Hummels, Clyne and Depay are never more than 24 hours away from a fresh link to our club. Which I think makes sense as we clearly need a RB, a CB and a pacy direct forward option. We have also been linked to several strikers such as Cavani, Ings, Dybaba, Benteke and Lewandowski, and again with the current form of Falcao and RvP it makes sense to look at a further striking option.
But the one that interests me most in the link to a midfielder, we have previously been linked to Vidal, and Strootman, but recently those links have faded, Gundogan seems to be the one atm. But if I'm honest it seems odd that we are chasing a big name established midfielder at all, Carrick and Blind will likely rotate in the deep lying midfield birth next season with a replacement for Carrick looking more likely next summer rather than this one, and with Fellaini, Mata, Rooney, Di Maria and Januzaj all able to play as the most advanced midfielder then it appears we are well stocked there. The area of midfield that seems the most need for reinforcement is that box to box role that Ander Herrera has fulfilled so well recently as beyond him we have maybe Rooney who could play such a role, but that has limited his impact.
It is that all round midfielder who links the play and is as useful in a defensive situation as he is an offensive. In this respect the links to players such as Vidal, Strootman and Gundogan make sense. But if we have Ander playing so well do we really need another top level player to come in? surely a potential world class player who could rotate with Herrera is a better option, also considering we will likely have to spend 75-85m on a RB, CB and winger then that blows a significant hole in our budget meaning we are limited as we will still have two positions the manager wants to bring players in for(CM and ST).
So considering the expense and the questionable injury history of the likes of Vidal, Strootman and Gundogan I've some up with a list of players who could do as good a job but would be cheaper and maybe better suited to a squad role with huge potential to improve.
First up is Marco Verratti, now I know i said cheaper and he won't be but to miss of a player of his quality off a list potential targets would be foolish to the extreme. In a year or twos time he will be one of the worlds premier midfielders, he is excellent both defending in his box and creating and controlling the tempo outside of it. So he is someone who if available we should really push for.
Next up is Andre Gomes, he has had a great season for Valencia and if they miss out on a UCL place to Sevilla then they may have to consider letting him go. He is developing into an excellent box to box midfielder, he has a great work rate which is only surpassed by his technical quality, he has massively developed his reading of the game which is helping him in the defensive area of his game.
Now we have a name I've mentioned recently, Granit Xhaka. This guy is a work horse, he covers every blade of grass and is tenacious in the tackle but still has the quality of passing to hurt teams going forward.
Mateo Kovacic is a player who was raved about a couple of seasons ago but seems to have disappeared, this i think is more down to the way his team have dropped of the face of the earth in footballing terms over the last two years. This season has probably seen him play his best football and yet his name has gone completely unmentioned, it just goes to show how fickle football is and how everyone is screaming for the next big thing and 20 year olds who were the next big thing as an 18yo have been cast aside in favour of the new flavour of the month. But as such maybe we can use this fall from grace at Inter to entice one of their best young players away.
Jordy Clasie is a pit bull of a player, and his style would be well suited to the premier league, he wouldn't cost the earth and he can cover all of the midfield positions. The only thing against him is he isn't a big name and he is Dutch so no doubt he would fall foul of the same curse that befell Darren Fletcher in the early part of his career where people stated he only got game time because he shares the same nationality as the manager. Clasie is ready for a step up and the premier league looks like the best fit for him.
I've now got three young guys who imo could become top top players in a few years time, First off Youri Tielemans. This lad has it all and despite being 17 years olds looks a seasoned pro already, could he make the step up from the Jupiter league to the premier league? based on talent alone yes, but work rate and mentality are just as important to young players succeeding as talent is, fortunately Youri seems to have his head screwed on and along with the Belgian players in the squad hopefully settling wouldn't be such a problem.
Then we move onto Adrien Rabiot, now I just said how mentality is just as important as talent is in fulfilling potential and that is the only thing that threatens to hold Rabiot back, he needs the right manager to keep him on the straight and narrow, maybe LvG's strict but fair style could be the making of a player such as Rabiot.
Finally is a player I have really enjoyed watching this season when i've seen him, Morgan Sanson. He plays the game with such fizz and flare, happy to scrap for the ball and press but in a second just turns on a pivot and plays a beautiful pass opening up a team at a time they thought they had a measure of control. The speed at which he can change the direction of play is at times breathtaking. He is without doubt the one young midfielder I have seen this season I have been most impressed with. Now I need to make sure I don't get ahead of myself, he is far from the finished product. His passing choices are sometimes a little over ambitious which leads to him giving the ball away unnecessarily a little too often. But that imo is something LvG could educate him on and help him become one of the best midfielders of the next 10 years.
So there are plenty of othe options out there, Verratti would obviously be my first choice but with him unlikely to be available then Andre Gomes, Granit Xhaka, Morgan Sanson or Youri Tielemans would all be excellent options.
{Ed002's Note - If Marco Verratti were available there would be plenty of clubs interested, not least Juventus and he remains open to a move there. PSG will be prepared to let him and Cavani go to Juventus as part of a deal for Pogba but Juve want to control the transfer. Real Madrid will push if it looks like he is going to be available.
Valencia's Andre Gomes has been watched recently by representatives of Bayern Munich, Manchester United and by Vicente Fernandez on behalf of Chelsea. However, the asking price would need to pretty much halve to make any transfer possible.
Xhaka has recently signed a new long-term contract and won't be moving this summer.
Montpellier were to have to work hard to keep Morgan Sanson from the clutches of West Ham United, Milan and Newcastle, all of which have a declared interest, but he will now be out injured until autumn.
Tielemans has attracted interest from Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, Arsenal, Juventus, Napoli and Marseille. Chelsea have actively been speaking with his club very recently but would need to send him on loan for, I imagine, two years or more. Atletico have been speaking with Anderlecct and the player likes the idea of a move to Madrid. I am sure the deal can be finalised.
Feyenoord's Clasie remains a target for Southampton and Porto. Interest from others, including Newcastle and Hull, seems to have waned.
Even though he has very recently extended his contract, Inter are willing to sell Kovacic and have spoken with Arsenal, Liverpool and Hertha Berlin. Nikky Vuskan has said there has not been any approach to him from any club at this time and that whilst Inter may be willing to sell the player, Kovacic wants to stay at the club.
Juventus, Arsenal and Chelsea enquired about Rabiot in 2013 and PSG were not keen to sell. Chelsea and Arsenal both enquired again in the summer of 2014 but would see him as one for the future - and neither will commit to the guarantee of first team football that was being requested by the player. Rabiot has been bleating about not being in the first team at PSG and a move to Arsenal or Chelsea would not resolve that in the short term. However, Arsenal, Spurs, Newcastle and Manchester City have had him watched and Spurs were keen on taking him on a loan to buy deal in January. Although previously backing away due to the request for a guarantee of playing time, talks are again happening with Juventus. Spurs has to be a contender still and Arsenal may rekindle their interest.}
24 Apr 2015 12:08:51
Shappy are those your choices or ones you believe the club will be intrested in? Looks like a random list of players to me.
24 Apr 2015 12:32:30
NO. Shappy is knows his Football!
24 Apr 2015 12:28:20
Thanks Ed002, your input is insightful and appreciated as always. So the club only have an interest in Gomes out of those players, obviously you have stated that the club is interested in Gundogan as well. Are you aware of any other midfielders the club has a serious or declared interest in at the moment. Thanks again.
Juan, these are players I think will have a bright future in the game and players I think the club maybe should be considering. As to whether they are currently under consideration you'll have to direct your question to either a Mr Ed Woodward or Mr Louis van Gaal?
{Ed002's Note - Vidal is due to be sold in the summer and I suspect there is still interest. Nainggolan might, if his complex ownership can be completely resolved, be an option (and the ownership issues are far clearer than they were). Strootman has been injured for a while and whilst he remains a target there may be too much of a risk with his injury issues to make a move for him. Carvalho remains a player that both Arsenal and Manchester United are interested in and his situation remains the same. He is for sale, but the asking price would need to come down to make any move possible. De Jong may be considered as an alternative.
M: Interest in Gundogan seems to have been rekindled as he is still delaying signing a new contract. Pogba will be outrageously expensive and there is strong interest from elsewhere. Pjanic was a Moyes target and I suspect interest has gone. Transfer fee and wages are very high. Khedira has been of interest but a move seems unlikely. Matuidi is a player the club has considered but he has no interest in leaving PSG. Interest in Viktor Fischer will have gone completely.
24 Apr 2015 13:17:07
Shappy, good post. I can't help but feel though that signing Gundogan is like signing two players. He is equally good at sitting deep and recycling the ball/dictating play as he is at being a bit more box2box. I would suggest that Gundogan seems most likely at this stage, and it would be no great surprise to see us move for De Jong on a free as he is a player that is useful in particular types of games. I think that, at least for next season, Herrera and Fellaini will stay as the most advanced of the 3 midfielders whilst Carrick, Blind or Gundogan starts as the deep lying playmaker. Blind is also left back back up and has had his injury problems, same with Carrick - remember we will have up to 20 more games next season to play.
Gundogan would be a definite signing for me, De Jong a distinct possibly depending on wage and his expectation of when he will play. But in games where we could get bullied in the middle, De Jong would be ideal sitting at the base of a 3 with Herrera ahead.
24 Apr 2015 14:01:36
i was a big fan of gundogan but he doesn't look the same player since his injury, would be a risk imo.
on a plus side we don't seem to be linked to strootman any more with is good news
24 Apr 2015 15:13:25
I agree with jred, Gundogan has been touted around for a reason, he is not the player he once was.
24 Apr 2015 15:21:30
Jred - Gundogan has actually had many good games since he returned from injury and has not had any trouble with his injury since. I'd take a punt on him.
24 Apr 2015 15:33:42
juan
he has been no where near the player he was prior to his injury .
24 Apr 2015 15:58:36
Shappy, what do you think of Josuha Guilavogui, Daniele Baselli and Vincent Pajot.
24 Apr 2015 19:05:47
Triple swoop on the saints for me. Wanyama, Schneiderlin and Clyne.
Send Nani, Hernandez and £35mil the other way.
24 Apr 2015 19:22:55
Good call Beast, I could go with that.