Having just spent big on two creative midfielders, Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini, the feeling is that Manchester United now need to bring in somebody to provide these technical talents with some protection.
We can quibble over whether Marouane Fellaini is a defensive midfielder or an attacker, but it’s clear to me that he was brought in to bolster United as a creative force. Unfortunately he’s been unable to do so. Whilst his injury hasn’t helped, I would have liked to have seen a little more from him.
Juan Mata was one of the Premier League’s best midfielders during his time at Chelsea but he’s been thrust out wide at Old Trafford and has yet to exercise the influence that we would have hoped to see.
I’m sure that this dynamic duo could yet come good, but at the moment the Manchester United system isn’t set-up to allow them to excel.
Enter stage left: FC Porto’s highly-rated defensive midfielder, Fernando. The Mirror recently published an article that suggested Manchester United are interested in the Brazilian, who’s currently boasting a £20m price-tag.
The Brazilian midfielder is nicknamed ‘The Octopus’, due to fans suggesting that he plays like a footballer with eight limbs. That’s just a neat way of saying that he’s highly mobile, wins a lot of challenges and puts an end to a surprising number of opponents’ forays forward.
As well as being a ball winner and a genuine physical presence, he’s also pretty handy in possession. He moves the ball about neatly, isn’t afraid to ride challenges and to support his team’s attacks wherever possible.
Wouldn’t this make him a perfect fit for Manchester United? With him nipping into challenges in the midfield, winning the ball back and quickly supplying the likes of Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini, The Red Devils would have a proper platform to build upon next season.
The Mirror also suggest that Liverpool and Manchester City are interested. If David Moyes is to get his man, he’s going to have to act quickly and skip to the head of the queue. Manchester United’s recovery may depend on him doing exactly that.
What’s your take? Do Manchester United need a defensive midfielder? Would Fernando be a good option?
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