There is a possibility of Manchester United replacing their entire midfield after a disastrous season that saw United miss out on Champions League football.
With Ander Herrera on the verge of joining Paris Saint Germain upon the expiry of his contract, Paul Pogba talking of joining his countryman Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid and Nemanja Matic aeging, they may have no other choice.
Despite the whole team requiring fresh blood, a midfield revamp would be a good start for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. So what will United midfield look like at the start of next season?
Scott McTominay’s form in the past few weeks has seen him get starts and praises from fans. And while some doubt his true quality, there can be no doubting his commitment to the red shirt, as an academy graduate.
McTominay has also earned the trust of manager Solskjaer meaning one way or the other, he will be around next season.
The 22-year-old has shown leadership credentials and even displayed a new-found eye for goal, enjoying a slightly more advanced role than he fulfilled under his former mentor, Jose Mourinho.
So whether in that box-to-box position, as a potential Herrera replacement, or deeper in the midfield when required, McTominay is sure to play a a good number of United’s games next season.
United fans have always bragged about having Sanchez, Paul Pogba and Fred’ within their ranks but next season could present new faces with at least two of these names set to leave.
Fred is most likely to remain at Old Trafford and could be built into the rounded defensive midfielder the team need. The £52 million signing struggled for the better part of the season, but there have instance of improvements and the team is hopeful he will develop into a complete product.
United also need to start looking beyond the ageing Matic, who has failed to hit his Chelsea 2014-15 form in a United shirt despite some good show, though with inconsistency.
The Pogba question
The biggest question United need to answer over the summer and the one that could shape the future of Solskjaer’s midfield is to keep Pogba, or to let him go?
There is no point keeping a player who has openly indicated he want to be in another club besides, Pogba has been inconsistent since his arrival from Juventus although was in electric form when Solskjaer arrived.
Club legend Paul Scholes slammed Pogba accusing him of living ‘in his own little fantasy world’.
“He thinks he is the big player, the one that needs to show people he is the best in the world and he doesn’t,” Scholes said.
“He just needs to play simple, he’s got teammates around him who should appreciate him and do appreciate him.”
If Real Madrid are ready to swoop, United should cash in and reinvest the money in other lacking departments. European football has exciting creative midfield options United have the muscles to buy if need be.
But if United want to keep the Frenchman, as they have intimated, Solskjaer must somehow help him rediscover his best form.
United must invest in the area they view as a priority.
If they don’t believe either Fred or Matic can do the job at the base of midfield, buy a holding midfielder. If they don’t believe McTominay is the best Herrera’s replacement, they need to buy. The same goes for replacing Pogba.
Fans talk about solving United’s defensive troubles and indeed adding goals to the forward line, but the midfield could be the biggest rebuilding job at Old Trafford this summer.
Big names such as Sanchez, Pogba, Romelu Lukaku, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Matic could be moved to create room for new arrivals as Solskjaer said some of the players are appearing for United for the last time.
“You are seeing some of these players for the last time in Manchester United colours,” Solskjaer said after the Huddersfield draw.
Rashford and Martial have been on the receiving end and are being accused of lack of commitment and disrespect for the badge and this could turn the fans against them.
“I used to like Rashford, but I no longer think he has the right attitude to play for Manchester United, I don’t value him. He should go,” said Lenny Owuor, an dejected United fan from East Africa.
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