Manchester United's Midfield Crisis!

Article by e-Manchester United Correspondent Lee Ellis

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After a season of disappointment, departing players and major changes, Manchester United are facing a pre-season, like they have never faced before. In this article I will provide an insight (personal opinion) on where we need to strengthen, and the players needed to fill these positions. This particular article concentrates on the midfield.

We clearly need to purchase some quality in the midfield. We need a box to box midfielder, someone we haven't had since Roy Keane left the club. This, I think, will probably be the hardest position to fill. David Moyes tried on more than one occasion last year to fill it, yet nobody wanted to take on the mantle. Instead we bought Maroune Fellaini, who just hasn't cut the mustard. The fundamental flaw in our plan to bring in the best is the fact we aren't in the Champions League, along with the fact that we are looking desperate, other clubs know we have money to spend and will put the price of their players up by quite a few quid! If players can look past that and realise that it was a one season blip (he says hopefully), then the pull of "Manchester United" alone will hopefully attract who Louis Van Gaal truly wants. Here are a few names who I would have on my wish list!

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Arturo Vidal (Juventus/Chile)

This is a midfield player of the highest quality. He has taken the phrase "box-to-box" midfielder and made it his own. Known as Guerriero (The Machine) in Italy, he has been key to Juventus' recent success. Vidal is also considered the most complete midfielder in the world currently due to his tackling abilities, play-making, and also his ability to support the team in both defence and attack at a high level. He is at the perfect age (27) to slot straight into the midfield, he has the best years ahead of him but has enough experience on the European and international stage. Louis Van Gaal is know to be a keen admirer and tried to sign him for Bayern Munich when Vidal played for Bayer Leverkusen. The fee floating around for Vidal is rumoured to be between £40-£60 million pounds.

Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich/Germany)

Another name mentioned a lot recently as the man Van Gaal wants to bulk up our midfield. A right-footed player, he usually plays as central midfielder. Earlier in his career he primarily played as a wide midfielder, yet is was Van Gaal who he credits for being the influence on changing his role for the team. With the arrival of Van Gaal to Bayern, he began playing in centre midfield to accommodate wingers Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery. Schweinsteiger has excellent dribbling skills, ball control, precise passing and good tackling capability. He also takes set-pieces. Dubbed the "Midfield Motor" Schweinsteiger is also a superb reader of the game and has scored spectacularly due to his good positioning. He has been called "the brain" of the German national team by his coach Joachim Löw. He also has the ability to shoot at target from distance. Sounds perfect doesn't he? Would he leave his beloved Munich? The press around the world seem to think so and a fee of around £25 million should be enough to see him arrive at Old Trafford.

Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich/Germany)

This guy is personally my number one target! Him and Cesc Fabregas! Well cesc has been tempted by the Russians Rubles, so he is no longer an option! But Kroos, now this guy is something special. Ill be honest, I hadnt really seen much of him, then I watched him absolutely tear Arsenal apart in this seasons Champions League and I instantly wanted to see him at Old Trafford. It was Loius Van Gaal who again gave Kroos his break at Munich. Kroos is known for his passing accuracy and his ability to set up goals. He is also labelled as the "Complete Midfielder". He has been described as "perhaps the archetype of the modern attacking midfielder". Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes said in 2014 that Kroos, "a top-class central midfielder", is the player than United most need to sign. His high profile contract disagreements with Bayern are well noted . His contract ends in the summer of 2015, where he would be able to join whoever he like for free, meaning Bayern missing out on a potential £30-£40 million pounds! Recently he came out and said that Manchester United wasn't an option, something tells me though that if he wants him Van Gaal will get his man!!!

Kevin Strootman (Roma/Holland)

The minute Van Gaal agreed to take over at Manchester United, then Strootman was linked as coming with him. Van Gaal rates him extremely highly, as do many leading football pundits across the world. Strootman is a tough-tackling midfielder, possessing good vision and balance on the ball. He is a physical, tactical strong midfielder. He is best used as a central midfielder, often serving as a box-to-box midfielder or a deep-lying play maker. He is known as the Dutch Roy Keane, drawing comparisons for the uncompromising style of play. The 24-year-old will miss the World Cup because of a serious knee injury. However, Strootman is not expected to play again until the autumn. Though he made a return for Roma after surgery in March, he re-aggravated the injury in May and could miss the start of next season. This may well be a transfer to be completed in January??

Many other players will be linked with and speculated over the summer about a move to Old Trafford. These are the higher profile names we are currently linked with. Maybe none will arrive, maybe they all will! One things for sure, our transfer dealings of late have been at times a joke, so lets hope Van Gaal gets the backing that Moyes maybe didn't have? Maybe players just didn't want to play under Moyes? Over to you Ed Woodward! Pull your finger out and #splashthecash!!!!!!!!

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