(Photo by Goal.com)
Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham is undoubtably the hottest commodity in the upcoming summer transfer market, with many of Europe’s elite teams trying to tempt the Birmingham baller to join them in a blockbuster deal. The frontrunners in this race seem to be Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Liverpool but this could all change in the summer depending on the securement of Champions League football and other enticing factors. One team that have appreciated Bellingham for a while are Manchester United, with Sir Alex Ferguson personally taking Bellingham on a tour of Carrington and Old Trafford before the teenager eventually signed for Dortmund that summer. Following this Birmingham City decided to retire Bellingham’s shirt number, a decision that baffled everybody at the time but perhaps we can now start to see the immense potential that the Birmingham scouts saw in him during his stint at his boyhood club.
If we look at Bellingham as a player and what he is going to offer any team that is lucky to pick him up in the summer, we can see that Bellingham possesses abilities and skills far excelling his age of just 19 years old. He controls the ball and tempo of a game like a well experienced veteran, but also possesses the burst of speed on and off the dribble to get himself out of tight situations and to advance up the pitch. Bellingham thrives in a crowded central position, with laser focused passing and the ability to drop a shoulder to lose his marker with a quick burst of speed. He is able to play in the number 6 and number 8 roles and thrives in both, with no fear regarding defensive duties or being the source of many attacks and counter attacks, seemingly always finding himself in optimal positions for goals and assists.
We could see these abilities begin to flourish when he was dominating the Championship at just 16 years old; since then he has thrived in the game time he has achieved at Dortmund, playing top flight football week in and out, earning Champions League experience and International experience with England in the three years since he arrived in Germany. Lucian Favre’s guidance during his time at Dortmund helped shape Bellingham into the player he is today, with Bellingham becoming increasingly reliable with the ball at his feet, cutting out the urge to try stupid killer passes at ridiculous ranges like if someone was playing Pro Clubs on FIFA (you know who you are).
The fact that he has achieved such maturity in his playing style at just 19 years of age is outstanding and it’s no wonder that Europe’s elite teams are wagging their tongues.
United’s hesitance to pay the £20 million to Birmingham in 2020 was ultimately Dortmund’s incredible gain, as they are likely to see around £150 million for their star player this summer. Whilst the Red Devils remain interested, question marks over the sale of the club are hindering the likelihood of Ten Hag being able to capture Bellingham this summer, but what if I told you this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing? If we look at the type of player that United need alongside Casemiro in that double pivot in the 4-2-3-1, even though Bellingham would fit like a glove at Old Trafford, there are a few other players who could slot into this role without the £150 million price tag that would fuel Ten Hag’s boys to greater heights.
Essentially, this could all boil down to a scenario where Bellingham doesn’t even consider United if they somehow fail to secure Champions League football and if the Glazers still remain owners of the club. So, let’s say that Bellingham were to sign for Madrid (which I think is the most likely destination), here are 5 alternatives I think that Erik Ten Hag would deploy at United alongside Casemiro for next season for that creative outlet. Who knows, some of these options may be more beneficial for Ten Hag’s system than Bellingham.
Frenkie De Jong
There is no secret that Erik Ten Hag tried to move mountains in order to secure Frenkie De Jong’s arrival at Old Trafford last season, in one of the biggest transfer sagas of last year’s summer window. It seems incredibly destined for De Jong to finally join his former manager in Manchester, with Barcelona’s financial worries and the incredible clash between United and Barcelona in this season’s Europa League in which De Jong saw the strength and passion of this United side first hand.
De Jong has been one of Football’s premium young starlings for a number of years, ever since breaking through in that tenacious Ajax side that produced a legendary, giant-killing run in the 2018-2019 season where they got to the semi-finals. That side were raided following the end of the season, with De Jong leaving Amsterdam for Barcelona to be one of their marquee young players for the next generation. Barcelona boss Xavi clearly sees a lot of himself in the young Dutchman, with his reluctance to let him leave the club, even with the financial hardships that Barcelona are currently facing, and De Jong himself seems in no rush to leave as well. With one of the greatest midfielders of all time giving you guidance and advice, you can see why De Jong is thriving at Barcelona and why he’d be reluctant to leave. Not to mention the horrible weather in Manchester compared to sunny Barcelona.
De Jong’s sheer quality and brilliance shines into any team he finds himself in, a young player with the world at his feet and the ability to use silky dribbling, sublime passing, and scary vision in order to influence any game. He is often deployed in a single pivot at Barca, with his eagerness to get stuck in at the defensive side of the game being a way for him to retain possession before driving through lines and breaking through pressure on the ball and off it. He is maturing at a rapid rate, with Ten Hag’s guidance at Ajax vastly improving his defensive aspects and cutting out reckless challenges, with his judgement evolving to make him incredibly efficient in attack and defence. He is incredibly comfortable receiving the ball with his back to the opposition, in fact, somehow he seems even stronger picking up the ball in these scenarios and inviting the pressure of the press, before picking out that crucial ball to one of his attackers.
His speed driving forward as well as his ability to pick passes seamlessly make him an incredible threat. It is rare to see a player that can be as effective as De Jong in all three thirds on the pitch. Now imagine if he had someone like Casemiro next to him to help bare the defensive workload, allowing De Jong to thrive in the attacking aspects for Manchester United. It would be one of the most formidable pivots in world football. In this role, he would have the freedom to attack from deeper positions and provide penetration through his passing and ambitious, assertive dribbling. On top of this, he is a versatile player, capable of that single pivot as he is demonstrating now, a deep-lying playmaker in a double pivot, as well as en effective number 8 type of player with his penetrative passing for his attackers to latch onto.
There is no wonder why Ten Hag has been incredibly eager to reunite with De Jong at Old Trafford, and you’d best believe he is going to try and move those mountains again to get his man in the summer. Whilst he is absolutely the man we need at United, I’m not too sure of whether this transfer will materialise or not, with De Jong seeming quite content at Barcelona. But the Catalonian side are desperate for cash, meaning that De Jong could be one of the prized assets made available to inject some funds back into the club. Time will tell on this deal, but I have some other alternatives that could fill this role too.
Marcel Sabitzer
A face that Manchester United fans have gotten used to recently, Marcel Sabitzer recently arrived at Old Trafford from Bayern Munich on a deadline day loan deal following an untimely injury to Christian Eriksen, and I have been very impressed with how seamlessly the Austrian international has settled into United’s team. There is often a consensus that a player needs a lengthy amount of time to get used to a new team or league, but Sabitzer looks like he has played in that United team for years with how quickly he has settled in and linked up with his new teammates. He recently scored his first goal for United in the 3-1 win in the FA Cup Quarter Finals against Fulham
You can see why he was signed by Bayern Munich and the quality that he brings to any team. Comfortable on the ball, capable of bringing it out of those deep lines and using incredible vision in order to further his team’s attacks. He does all of this without shying away from defensive duties and uses his strong work rates to make himself a presence all over the pitch.
Sabitzer is incredibly versatile with impact in a variety of positions. He can play in central midfield, a wide attacker, or between the lines behind a centre-forward. His ability to connect with attackers, especially those running in behind, helps his team progress up the pitch and penetrate opposing back lines. As a result, many of his attacking involvements come in the pass before the assist, with his work in the inside channels key. His ability to move on the blind side of opponents, exploit gaps in the opposition’s midfield and penetrate with forward runs of his own, enhances his ability to progress play into the final third.
Sabitzer has already spoken of his delight at working under Ten Hag and playing for the famous red shirt of Manchester United, making a potential permanent move in the summer a lot more likely. Rumours have it that he would be available for around £20 million in the summer, a deal that makes so much sense for United to make. Even if he doesn’t start every single week after the return of Christian Eriksen (or even with the arrival of another player on this list), £20 million for a player of that calibre is a no brainer for an experienced squad player.
Declan Rice
Declan Rice has had an interesting career so far with his time at West Ham, recently being on the receiving end of some scathing criticism from Roy Keane regarding his recent performances and the state that West Ham find themselves in right now. I feel that Rice is the scapegoat for a wider issue within that West Ham squad, but because Rice is a young England international it is only natural for the media to slap all the blame on him. Now don’t get me wrong, Rice’s performances this season have not been as consistent as previous seasons, but only a small handful of players can hold their heads even remotely high right now. He has remained professional throughout this immense speculation regarding his future and the performances of West Ham. Whilst Rice is a player that should perhaps be doing a lot more right now, this doesn’t change the fact that Declan Rice has immense potential and would fit into United’s midfield very nicely right now.
What is putting a lot of teams off right now is the immense £150 million price tag that David Moyes has slapped on his head in order to ward off any potential buyers, but all that looks to change soon. Rice has rejected three new contract offers, one of which being a whopper 8 year deal making him the highest paid player in the club’s history, from the Irons and the 24 year old looks increasingly likely to leave in the summer. Rice’s contract runs until 2024 with the option to extend a further 12 months, but if West Ham find themselves unable to escape the relegation fight they find themselves in, there will be no doubt that Rice will look for pastures new. A fee of around £60-80 million should be enough to secure Rice’s signature, a fee that will certainly pay itself back in time in terms of longevity and the quality he will bring to any team looking to compete in the Champions League.
In terms of how his play style will change any team that he signs for, Rice is predominantly a defensive midfielder with ability and confidence well above his age, which has been the story of his career during his time with West Ham. Rice is strong in the tackle and combative in the air. He is two-footed, and able to jockey opponents in either direction, and show a quick burst of speed if he is taken on to cover and retrieve the ball, making him incredibly tough as a one-on-one matchup. He slows attacks down, allowing teammates to make recovery runs and regain their team’s shape. Rice and his fellow Hammer, Soucek, became one of the league’s most formidable holding midfield pairings (this season isn’t a great example) with their power and imposing physicality being one of the driving forces for their 6th place finish in the 2020/21 season. His anticipation, agility and ball-winning ability means he is very capable at counter-pressing, which Ten Hag famously favours in his midfielders, and he wins the ball back early on following a loss of possession before being the driving force behind a counter to get the ball to his more attacking teammates. His game is constantly evolving and we can see this with the progression of his passing ability over the years, he plays vertical passes where possible, and he has the ability to play accurate, long-range diagonal passes towards his wingers to switch the play. Most of the time he is conservative with his passing, but given the chance he can start to play these dangerous balls forwards.
Sitting alongside Casemiro would be a dream come true at Old Trafford, with Rice’s versatility meaning he can be an incredible partner and replacement for Casemiro at the same time, with Rice being able to combine with Eriksen and anyone else who he would play alongside in that number 6 role. He is also comfortable in a midfield three and is not shy of striding forward if the situation calls for it.
If Manchester United were to sign Declan Rice, they would have a ready made powerhouse to be an upgrade in Erik Ten Hag’s midfield for perhaps the next decade.
Matheus Nunes
The Portuguese international that plays for Wolves (that doesn’t really narrow it down) has only been in the Midlands for a short while, but many of Europe’s elite teams are already sniffing around after seeing the immense potential at his feet. Whilst he hasn’t had an incredible season at the Molineux, there is a clear consensus that Nunes won’t be staying in the midlands for very long, especially if Wolves find themselves victim to a relegation, which would absolutely tank the asking price that Wolves would be able to demand for the 24-year-old’s services. He recently scored his first league goal for the club with an absolute rocket against fellow relegation candidates Chelsea (Chelsea fans will love that).
Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes has already spoken of his attempts to persuade his former Sporting Lisbon teammate Nunes to join him at Old Trafford before his arrival in Wolverhampton, saying that the player is ‘ready made’ for the Premier League. He spoke to Eleven Sports and said:
‘He's going to experience the best league in the world, he's going to have players beside him with a lot of quality, like Ruben [Neves] and Joao [Moutinho], who will teach him a lot. They are two experienced players.
'Matheus is doing incredible things. He has an incredible scope for growth, he is a humble, hardworking kid and I'm sure he will probably explode in the Premier League and will show his qualities.
'Because for his qualities Matheus was not made for the Premier League, but rather the Premier League was made for Matheus.' - Eleven Sports
Nunes, similar to a lot of midfielders on this list, is incredibly efficient receiving the ball under pressure and using tricky dribbling in order to find pockets of space between the pressing opposition, allowing his attackers to advance and await a precise pass. He is able to progress attacks, whilst not being afraid to show a defensive side to his game, locking up spaces in order to press the opposition into a mistake, with Nunes restarting the play and providing his team with a quick, efficient, and effective counter attack. His versatility in both the offensive and defensive aspects of the position makes him an ideal partner for a Casemiro, a Fred, a McTominay, or an Eriksen.
Whilst his long range passing still isn’t quite as strong as it perhaps should be, we can see him strive to improve this area of his game for Wolves. If he manages to make these long range passes a reliable staple of his game, much like the previously mentioned Bruno Fernandes, we could see a very well rounded offensive and defensive threat that could slot into Ten Hag’s plans comfortably. Whilst he wouldn’t be my number one priority on this list, if the opportunity arose for him in a cutthroat deal following a potential relegation for Wolves, he would be a good alternative that wouldn’t break the bank as much as someone like a Rice or De Jong.
Luka Modric
Certainly not a long term solution to the problem United currently have at hand, but a player as legendary and capable as Luka Modric would bring the ‘Galactico’ mentality that Varane and Casemiro have brought to Old Trafford during their tenures. The former Ballon D’or winner is one of the most respected and admired players of this generation (which is weird considering that Madrid fans initially voted him as their worst ever signing) due to his unmatched technical ability as well as the intelligence he displays on the ball. The wealth of experience he would bring to United would be invaluable for United’s future stars, imagine learning off of some of the most decorated and celebrated players in the world like Modric, Casemiro, and Varane.
The Croatian is coming towards the end of his current deal at Madrid, with reports suggesting he may be open to a new challenge, potentially following Casemiro who had the exact same mentality this summer. Reuniting the Casemiro and Modric midfield partnership would bring that level of prestige and excellence to Old Trafford rather than the horror of Fred and McTominay that we have seen too much in recent seasons.
Modric’s technical ability is world-class and has rightfully positioned him as one of Europe’s most elite midfielders. He is an excellent passer of the ball and has great vision, which allows him to pick out teammates with ease. His ability to control the midfield and dictate the tempo of the game would be a great asset to this sometimes naive Manchester United midfield, especially when the experience of Casemiro would come into play alongside him. The Croatian has a great understanding of the game and knows how to read the opposition’s movements, with him being expert at positioning himself in the right areas on the pitch to make tackles and intercept passes, kickstarting the counter for his team.
Modric’s work rate is exceptional. His tireless running and his ability to cover a lot of ground despite his age is genuinely scary, we saw just a couple weeks ago how he still ran rings around Liverpool’s midfield during the two legs in which they dominated in this season’s Champions League. This would be particularly useful for Ten Hag’s high-pressing play, allowing him to press the opposition effectively and help United win back possession quickly, with the added quality behind those final balls in the counter attack being crucial in making Manchester United title contenders again.
Finally, something United have been dearly missing in the years since Ferguson left the club, Modric’s leadership qualities would be a great asset to this Manchester United side. He is a natural leader and has captained both Real Madrid and his Croatian national team. His experience and leadership would be invaluable to a young Manchester United squad, especially in big games and high-pressure situations. We have seen the influence that the likes of Casemiro, Varane, Lisandro Martinez, and Bruno Fernandes have had in the changing room and on the pitch since their arrivals, with Modric being of that same calibre of professionalism and quality, he advice and leadership would be greatly welcomed at Old Trafford and would certainly help get United back to where they belong.
Who should Manchester United sign this summer?
0%Jude Bellingham
0%Frenkie De Jong
0%Marcel Sabitzer
0%Declan Rice
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