Manchester United Scouting Reports: Ander Herrera

As the transfer window approaches its inevitable conclusion, Manchester United are yet to reinforce the core of the team; they are still yet to sign a central midfielder. As time ticks down, a new name has popped up in the transfer rumors, that of Ander Herrera. An Athletic Bilbao player, United have already had one bid for him turned down, with the Bilbao president saying that Manchester United will have to pay his full buyout clause, believed to be at 36 million Euros (30 million pounds) to attain his services. The question is, is the young Spaniard worth such a high price?

Performance from Last Season:

While Bilbao suffered a noticeable drop-off in the previous season, especially when compared to the heights achieved in the 2011-12 season, reaching the Europa League and Copa del Rey finals, Ander Herrera performed rather well for the team. He was able to accumulate 29 appearances for the Basque team, in which he averaged 66 passes per game, while only completing 80.9% of the passes he attempted. The passes attempted number is significantly higher than that of the second-best midfielder in Manchester United's current squad; attempting 17 more passes on average than Tom Cleverley. The difference is in the fact that Herrera loses the ball much more often than Cleverley does, completing 10% less passes than Cleverley. While he still completes more passes as a total than Cleverley does (53 completed per game vs. 44 completed per game), his tendency to give the ball away is a bit of a problem. An explanation for this could easily lie in his key passes statistic. On average, Ander Herrera completes 1.3 key passes per game, showing that he is more than able to pick out his teammates and create goal scoring chances. This statistic is higher than that of United's best midfielder in the form of Michael Carrick who completes 1 key pass per game, and Cleverley makes 0.9 key passes per game. Despite making opportunities for his teammates quite frequently last season, Herrera only had 2 assists. Here it can be put down to one key factor: Fernando Llorente's apparent banishment from the squad, wherein he received little to no play-time throughout the season due to the fact that he wished to join Juventus. The man who was Bilbao's key man the previous season played little to no part for the club in the 2012-13 season, leading to lesser goals for the club. 

Nonetheless, Herrera also managed to score one league goal for himself in the previous season. Herrera possesses the ability to pick out his teammates from a distance with ease, as demonstrated by his 4.3 completed long passes per game, putting him a level above that of Tom Cleverley's, completing 1.3 more long passes in a match on average. This is only one more facet in the attacking abilities that Herrera possesses, as he also completes 1.5 dribbles per game, a number that is significantly higher than that of all of the United midfielders, showing that he will be able to carry the ball forward when necessary and with ease. This attacking work leads to him having 1.9 shots per game, another statistic that is well above that of any of United's current batch in the center of the park, showing that he is not at all afraid to get forward. What is so amazing about his attacking abilities is the simple fact that he is more than willing to track back and defend. Driven by the loss of Javi Martinez to Bayern Munich, Athletic Bilbao needed someone to step and fill his shoes, and Herrera did just that, completing 4 tackles per game on average last season, with 1.3 interceptions per game. The tackles per game statistic is higher than all of United's current midfielders, and the interceptions is above that of Cleverley's showing that he will be able to provide a defensive presence when necessary. Putting in such a hard defensive shift inevitably results in a higher rate of fouling players, and that is shown through his 1.8 fouls per game, something that he will definitely have to lower should he join United. He is also dispossessed 1.9 times per game and turns the ball over 1.5 times per game, again showing that he has some work to do when it comes down to his ball retention skills. At the age of 24 though, he can definitely improve.

How Would He Fit In?

Quite simply, Herrera would replace Tom Cleverley as a partner to Michael Carrick to form Manchester United's midfield duo, be it in a 4-4-2 formation or a 4-2-3-1 formation. His abilities to both attack and defend will be very important to the team should he join. He will be able to provide creativity both going forward and going back to defend, being an improvement to Tom Cleverley. His presence in forward areas will cause problems for opposition defenses, who already have to worry about the creative abilities of Wayne Rooney, Shinji Kagawa, and Robin van Persie, thereby leading to having someone open as an option to pass to. Should the opposition concentrate solely on one player, the others will be left open, forcing the opposing teams to worry about all of United's attacking prowess. One simple lapse in concentration will lead to an opening, an opening that could be easily exploited with the talent on hand. Herrera will be able to provide extra creativity in the final third of the pitch, something Cleverley is not able to do often enough in matches, and hence aid all of United's forwards by finding passes along with creating space to run into. He will also allow Michael Carrick to play as a deeper-lying, holding midfielder, orchestrating the play from a position more back in the field. Herrera's presence will free up Carrick to play how he wishes, to conduct the orchestra, and Herrera's own abilities going forward give United 6 viable creative options when attacking, the wingers, the attacking midfielder, the striker, as well as the central midfield, an area from which not enough goals and assists have been coming as of late. His abilities to pull off long balls with ease and consistency will also allow United to spread the play and play the traditional United fashion with wing play as well as technical skill and tiki-taka-esque football, especially with the abilities of Kagawa, Rooney, Herrera, and Carrick. Quick, one-touch passing can be expected from the team should Herrera join, providing the team with a bit of Spanish flair. In addition, he will be able to carry the ball forwards, something United have missed coming from the midfield for a while now. Equally important will be his defensive contribution. The hard work that he puts into defending will be very important, as it will allow United to gain the ball quickly after losing it and essentially dominating midfield areas. At the age of 24, he can develop into the leader of the United midfield.

The Key Problem:

The potential problems with signing Ander Herrera lie in his tendency to give the ball away consistently. His 80.9% passing completion rate is simply not high enough. He loses the ball far too often when passing, something which he needs to improve upon as it may simply end up causing the opposition to counter-attack and even score a goal against the team. Against the very best teams in Europe, especially, being so profligate with the ball is just asking for trouble. He needs to learn to play the safe passes when necessary to ensure that United hold onto the ball as long as possible and create chances as well. His tendency to give away fouls is another spot of worry; providing the opposition with set pieces, especially the best teams, is a very dangerous proposition, as they will easily exploit any weakness in the Manchester United defense and score the goals. He is also not yet proven in England, and my struggle a little bit with the physicality of the game, being a bit small, but we have seen small, yet technically gifted Spaniards such as Santi Cazorla, Juan Mata, and David Silva flourish in the Premier League. Yet you can never be too sure about any player.

The Right Signing?

Perhaps Ander Herrera can become the player Manchester United need to solve their midfield problems. He certainly has the potential, he certainly has the talent. He can keep the ball moving, ping long balls with ease, find through passes, and dribble past the opposition while also putting in a hard work rate in helping out the team by defending as well as regaining possession quickly and efficiently, a byproduct of working under Marcelo Biesla. But worries are there with his tendency to give the ball away to the opposition relatively frequently. Herrera fouls opponents quite often and just plain gives the ball straight to the opponents, something the best players could take advantage of and exploit, exposing the defense very often. Nonetheless, he will most certainly grow and improve, especially as he has yet to hit his best years considering he is still 24, but is he worth 30 million pounds? Perhaps, but we will have to wait and see.

Likelihood: 7.5/10
Impact: 8.5/10

Manchester United Scouting Reports: Morgan Schneiderlin

With Manchester Untied's long search for a midfielder coming to a head as of late with the long rumored interest in Marouane Fellaini having seemingly been solidified, many are discussing his potential role in the team. Fellaini would be a good buy for the Red Devils, as we have written previously, there are other possible choices for David Moyes. One name that is sometimes mentioned is that of Morgan Schneiderlin, the French defensive midfielder for Southampton Football Club. How would the potential signing of Morgan Schneiderlin work and how would it impact the club? Would he be worth it?

Performance from Last Season:

With the Saints' arrival into the Premier League last season, many were predicting that they would struggle in the league, and that the team would quickly be relegated and head back down into the Championship after a solitary year in the Premier League. It turned out to be quite the contrary, however, as they finished relatively comfortably in 14th place, despite having struggles initially in the season under the management of Mauricio Pochettino. One major factor in their success last season was the performances of Morgan Schneiderlin in the heart of the park, proving to be the engine of the Southampton team, so much so that he became third choice captain under Adam Lallana (captain) and Rickie Lambert (vice-captain), showing that he is truly a leader in the Southampton squad. In terms of statistics, he made a total of 36 appearances in the Premier League, all of them as starts, highlighting his importance in the team. Throughout all these appearances, his defensive statistics, especially for a midfielder, were simply outstanding. He would average 4.1 tackles per game, and 3.9 interceptions per game, winning the ball back at a ridiculous rate from the opposition, winning the ball back at an average of 8 times per game. For comparison's sake, the best player defensively for the Manchester United midfield was Michael Carrick, who won the ball back at an overall average of 4.4 times per game. This rate is higher than even Arturo Vidal, who won it back at an overall average of 6.4 times per game in the Serie A. He is able to do this while giving away fouls at a rate that is relatively minimal compared to the amount of times that he wins the ball back; Schneiderlin commits 1.8 fouls per game, a number which may initially seem rather high, is actually a rate similar to Michael Carrick's of fouls to balls won, about 1 foul for every 4 times the ball is won. In addition, Schneiderlin does not lose the ball that often as he is only dispossessed 0.9 times per game, and turns the ball over once a match, numbers that are very similar to the current midfielders at Manchester United, albeit a little bit higher. 

One might assume that all this defensive work would mean that he lacks technical skill but Schneiderlin has enough to do good for the team. He averages 52.1 passes per game, all the while completing 85.2% of all the passes he attempts. This is a number very similar to that of Tom Cleverley, except that Cleverley is much more proficient in making the ball reach its intended target with him completing 90.2% of his passes. Then again, Cleverley wins the ball back at an overall rate of 2.4 times per game, while Schneiderlin does it 8 times per game. He can also pull off long passes when necessary, as highlighted by him completing an average of 2.9 long balls per game, as well as his 0.8 key passes per game, showing that he does have a creative side as well. He is not at all afraid to get forward, as he does score goals on occasion, usually important goals, contributing to the team by scoring 5 league goals last season though he had no assists. He is somewhat able to push the ball forward, but nothing much better than what United currently have with Schneiderlin completing 0.4 dribbles per game, but he is most certainly unafraid to shoot as he takes 0.8 shots per game. Morgan Schneiderlin was truly a very good defensive midfielder in the previous season.

How Would He Fit In?

Morgan Schneiderlin would most certainly fit in in the heart of the United midfield should he sign for the club, replacing Tom Cleverley as Michael Carrick's partner. His presence in midfield will surely be an upgrade from that of Cleverley's as he is significantly more sound defensively. What Schneiderlin will be able to provide will prove to be integral in the team: the ability to win the ball back quickly and easily. As of late, midfield has been bypassed far too often and far too easily as Manchester United have lacked the strong, steely presence to boss the center of the pitch. The addition of Schneiderlin will most certainly aid the team in that department as his physical and robust play will lead to the opposition midfielders being hassled and harried until they give the ball away. This will allow Moyes to implement a high pressing, high energy style of play which he appears to wish to implement if one were to make a guess based off of Manchester United's pre-season matches. Schneiderlin and Carrick will, thereby, be able to provide a solid foundation for Manchester United's front four including the likes of Shinji Kagawa, Wayne Rooney, and Robin van Persie, giving them freedom to interchange positions with one another and use their creative abilities as they see best. This will lead to overall havoc on the opposition defenses as the front lines will be well aware that the defensive side of the game shall be covered, and they need not worry as much about losing the ball, allowing the forwards to try new ideas, leading to more beautiful and creative play. Schneiderlin's presence as a left defensive midfielder will also aid Patrice Evra in covering the attacks by opposition wingers, helping shore up Evra's flank, especially as Evra ages and loses the pace necessary to track back, particularly because his best traits are his abilities to overlap and aid the left sided player of the front four in attack, providing width and an extra option in build-up play. Schneiderlin is also tidy in possession, while being able to occasionally nick a goal or two, or provide an alternative path through a long ball or a key pass. His creative abilities will not be as important as his defensive abilities though he will most certainly be able to set up a few chances on his own. More importantly is the creative freedom that Carrick as he will be aware that there will be someone available to clear out any opposition chance should he give the ball away. This will lead to him being able to orchestrate United's attacks from a deep lying position, much in the vein of Andrea Pirlo for Juventus. Overall, Morgan Schneiderlin will prove to make a positive impact on the club, especially considering that he is only at the age of 23, and will be seeking to improve.

The Key Problems:

While it may all certainly appear to be fine on the surface, there are several problems with the potential signing of Morgan Schneiderlin. The biggest and most glaring issue is the simple fact that he has not yet played in Europe and has no European experience under his belt. This may prove to be a bit of a problem as the midfield may just end up being overrun and outplayed by the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid. His lack of experience may end up costing the club dear, though he will certainly improve with time, he might not be able to provide the final piece of the puzzle for Manchester United's fourth Champions League crown. Furthermore, his pass completion rate is not yet at a truly elite level. He must attempt and complete more passes in order to become a much better player and one of the best should United wish to dominate Europe. He can most certainly win the ball back, but does he have the technical ability to play the ball around? That is the side of his game that will surely need to improve, especially by looking at physically dominant yet superbly technical midfielders like Bastian Schweinsteiger. Overlooking that, why would Southampton give away one of their best players? He is under contract until 2017, and he is holding an important place in the first team, a fan favorite at St. Mary's. It will be very hard to prise him away from the club and should United be able to do that, it might be at a higher price than the club should pay for him.

The Final Verdict:

Should Manchester United sign Morgan Schneiderlin, the club's midfield will be immensely improved. He will provide a ball-winning presence in the heart of the midfield which the club have been lacking for a while now. In doing so, he will permit the forwards and Michael Carrick to play with more fluidity, leading to goals as well as more beautiful play while being defensively solid. Question marks do remain over whether or not he has the technical ability to aid United in the quest for a fourth European crown but he will surely improve, especially considering that he is still only at the age of 23. There are also some doubts over whether or not he will be willing to leave St. Mary's, considering he has been there since 2008, has a contract until 2017, and is a fan favorite as well as a third choice captain, all the while leading the midfield. Should United somehow acquire him at the reported price of 4.8 million pounds, it will be a great buy but expect Southampton to twist United's arm around and take at least 10 million to let United take Schneiderlin off of their hands. Nonetheless, Morgan Schneiderlin will be a very good buy for Manchester United and David Moyes, giving the ball-winning presence in midfield that has been lacking for a while.

Likelihood: 4/10
Impact: 8.5/10

Manchester United Scouting Reports: Maxime Gonalons

Manchester United's search for a midfielder has led to many names pointed out by football journalists and fans alike, each one suggesting that they know the player to solve the club's need for reinforcement in the center of the park. One name that has not been mentioned nearly often enough (or even at all) is the name of the Lyon defensive midfielder Maxime Gonalons. A person known to those who watch the Ligue 1, Gonalons is the heart of the Lyon midfield, but could he make an impact on the Manchester United first team?

Performance from Last Season:

Maxime Gonalons proved to be integral to Lyon's season as he was able to not only pass the ball around and keep it moving, he was more than able to do his defensive duties and aid the team from conceding goals when necessary. Not only was he able to be a source of the ball for his teammates, he would work hard in order to ensure that the team always had the ball when they were playing. In his previous season, Gonalons averaged 63.5 passes per game while completing 88% of the passes that he attempted per match. These are both very good passing numbers, showing that he is both comfortable on the ball and is able to move it around with ease. For comparison's sake, he played many more passes than Tom Cleverley per match (about 14.5) while keeping a completion rate that was roughly the same as Cleverley's. To counter these statistics, one might argue that he makes only "safe" passes; passes that go backwards and sideways, never forwards, something that is incorrect. Gonalons is more than able to pick out the perfect pass from a distance, as he completed an average of 6.8 long balls per game, showcasing both his vision to be able to see his teammates in the position to receive the ball, as well as his technical skill to be able to place the pass with perfection and with such consistency. The long balls completed per game is significantly higher than that of any of Manchester United's current midfielders, averaging exactly one more completed long ball per game than Michael Carrick. Upon this, he was only dispossessed once per game and turned the ball over 0.8 times per game, both numbers which are only slightly higher than that of United's current midfielders. He does make an average of 0.4 dribbles per game and take an average of 0.5 shots per game, leading to 3 league goals and no assists in the past season for the club. The above statistics highlight that he may not necessarily be the most creative of midfielders, by providing direct assists and creating chances directly for his teammates, especially proven by his 0.3 key passes per game, lower than all of United's current midfielders, but he is more than able to keep the ball moving and spread the play when it is required, indirectly leading to chances on goal. Upon that, Gonalons was very active defensively, as he was able to put in an astounding 4 tackles per game, a number that is well above the current highest for United in the form of Carrick who makes 2.3 tackles per game. Gonalons is also very adept at being able to read the play, as highlighted by his 3.1 interceptions per game, thus aiding Olympique Lyon to be able to attack with freedom while he was also important in being the engine that essentially ran the midfield. With so many tackles come the fouls, and that is a bit of a worry as he gives away 2 fouls per game, a number that is not that great, but his ball-winning abilities compensate giving away the fouls. All in all, Maxime Gonalons was very important in the past season, aiding the club by bossing and running the midfield.

How Would He Fit In?

Maxime Gonalons would more than likely partner Michael Carrick in the center of the park. Their partnership will come to be integral to allowing Manchester United's front lines to have near complete freedom when the team is attacking. An important aspect of his game is to be able to keep the ball moving, and that is exactly what both he and Carrick will be doing should he join United. Both of them are more than capable at passing the ball around and they will ensure that the ball will simply not stop being in motion, allowing for movement and fluidity of play on and off the ball. They will be able to find different options in attack, as both of them are more than capable of pulling off stunning long balls, with equal skill. Both Carrick and Gonalons have similar technical abilities so it will not be very surprising if Gonalons were to move into Carrick's role in a few seasons as Carrick ages and Gonalons inevitably will improve. But currently, Gonalons' tackling abilities will prove to be integral in how United will be able to play both in the present and beyond. He has a very high defensive workrate and is always trying to make sure the team has the ball. This aspect of his play will prove to be important as it will provide United with the strong and powerful midfield presence that has been lacking for several years now. Carrick wins the ball back fairly regularly but Gonalons is at another level. By putting them both together in the center of the park, United will be able to win the ball back very quickly and easily after losing it, fitting in with a high pressing style of play. This in turn will allow Shinji Kagawa, Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie, along with Carrick himself to have much more creative freedoms to be able to dictate play as the knowledge of a safety net is everpresent for the players. By knowing that someone is always available and willing to steal the ball back from the opposition in no time at all should allow the players to try newer and more creative ideas, as they shall be less afraid of losing possession. In addition, Gonalons should provide an extra cover, a secondary layer to the defense, thereby preventing the club from conceding as often as the club has in recent memory. He will help shore up the defense by aiding them in their duties, so instances like when Gareth Bale tore past the United midfield and defense to score a goal in Tottenham's 3-2 win at Old Trafford should not happen again. Overall, Gonalons will prove to be an important piece in the United midfield.

The Key Problem:

If there is to be any problem with this potential signing, it will likely be the fact that Gonalons appears to be prone to giving away fouls quite often. Committing two fouls per game is fairly high, and could be a bit of a problem. Giving away set pieces would be an issue, especially in a big match, especially if it is in a dangerous position but one can never be too safe. Though expect the number of fouls to go down as he grows and learns the arts of tackling and effectively improve, becoming a workhorse in midfield. Another worry may be the fact that he would appear not to be that mobile; his 0.4 dribbles per game would suggest he is not that good in carrying the ball forward, making bursting runs out of the midfield and into forward spaces. In terms of play, he could be compared to Michael Carrick and at his age, he will be a great understudy and take over his role, but then the problem of his partner will rise again. He can most certainly boss games as he did in the Europa League and Ligue 1, but will he be able to take the next step up? One can never be too sure.

The Solution?

Maxime Gonalons is the all-round package. He possess the ability to play the ball around with ease while also being adept at tackling and basically taking the ball back from the opposition. He would prove to be an ideal partner and eventual replacement for Michael Carrick, though his ability to give away fouls may appear to be a bit of a turn off. He is most certainly young, at the age of 24, and his reported price is only 10.5 million pounds. Expect Lyon to twist Manchester United's arm around when it is coming to price as he is one of their most valuable assets. If Untied is able to acquire him for the above price, or even anything under the 20 million pound mark, he will most certainly be a steal, and a great player for years to come.

Likelihood: 5/10
Impact: 9/10

Manchester United Scouting Reports: Arturo Vidal

Juventus possesses one of the best set of midfielders in the world; the combination of Andrea Pirlo, Claudio Marchisio, and Arturo Vidal almost always dominate their opposition, along with up and coming players who have equally bright futures like Paul Pogba and Luca Marrone. Such quality players are always wanted by other teams and some rumors suggest Manchester United may be interested in midfield dynamo Arturo Vidal as a solution to Manchester United's midfield woes as of late. Can he be the savior to United's midfield problems?

Performance from Last Season:

Arturo Vidal was integral to Juventus as they went on to dominate and win the Serie A for a second year running. His partnership with Claudio Marchisio and Andrea Pirlo allowed for Juventus to take control of and dominate matches. Particularly thanks to Vidal's limitless stamina and skill at playing the role of a box to box midfielder, Pirlo was allowed to have full freedom to dictate matches at will and set up majestic chances for his teammates to finish off, thus making Juventus dangerous at all times of the match. In the Serie A last year, Vidal made a total of 29 appearances, two of which came as a substitute. Over these league appearances, Vidal averaged 53.5 passes per game, completing about 87% of the passes he attempted, while completing 2.5 long balls per game, showing that he is able to both aid the team in holding onto the ball as well as being able to spread the play with ease. In comparison to his teammate Claudio Marchisio, Vidal attempts and completes more passes, though has 0.6 less successful long balls per game. He also had an average of 0.7 completed dribbles per game, while making 2 shots per game leading to 10 league goals and 8 assists. Along with his 8 assists, he averaged 2 key passes per game; all of the three previous statistics are higher than Marchisio's while Vidal averages 0.1 less shots per game, showing his ability to not only finish off chances that are given to him, he is able to easily create chances for others. An important thing to remember is that Vidal made his assists while having relatively poor strikers; Alessandro Matri, Mirko Vucinic, and Sebastian Giovinco aren't exactly the best in the world or bad, they are just good, but not Juventus good. With the likes of Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez joining the Bianconeri, expect Vidal's assist numbers to increase in the coming Serie A season.

 It is in his defending, however, that Vidal is truly able to shine. He averaged a ridiculous 4.9 tackles per game, putting him in tied second in the Serie A for tackles, below Matteo Darmian who is a center back. To put the tackling statistic into perspective, Vidal wins the ball back 4.9 times per game from tackles alone, while Manchester United's current midfield set of Michael Carrick, Anderson, Tom Cleverley, and Phil Jones win the ball at an overall average (tackles plus interceptions) of 4.4 times per game, 1.5 times per game, 2.4 times per game, and 3.5 times per game. This shows that Vidal is more than able to not only get forward and help create chances for his teammates and finish them, he is willing to get back and defend, aiding the backline and just dominating the midfield. In addition to his tackling abilities, Vidal makes 1.5 interceptions per game, displaying his abilities to read the game and get in the right positions to win the ball back. Amazingly, he only fouls a player 1.1 times per match, astounding when considering how often he is likely to commit a tackle, highlighting his ability to know when and where to tackle as well as his immaculate ability while doing so. He is dispossessed once per match and turns the ball over once per match as well, both fairly low numbers. Add in the fact that he is only the age of 26 and one will realize how much better he can still become.

How Would He Fit In?

If Vidal were to join Manchester United, he would simply slot in right next to Carrick in the heart of the midfield. While Carrick would be allowed to sit back and control the midfield by passing the ball around, launching long balls and essentially making sure the ball never stops moving when United is in possession, Vidal would be charged with simply bombarding up and down the pitch, aiding in both the attacking and defensive side of the game. He will be able to push up and help the likes of Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, and Shinji Kagawa by providing an extra threat to the opposition as he is not only able to create chances, but also finish them. In being able to do so, the opposition will have an extra person to worry about, causing confusion and chaos deep in their territory. His presence will either be noticed and leave someone else from the United frontline to go unnoticed and get into a good position, or he will go completely unnoticed, allowing him to sneak in behind the opposition and get a goal himself. This will be integral as it will allow Manchester United to score many more goals from both the forwards as well as from the midfield, an area of the pitch from which the team has not had a source of goals since the days of Roy Keane and Paul Scholes, both of whom could score goals. More important in Vidal's game is his ability to aid the team greatly when defending, thus helping the defense by adding some much needed grit and steel in the midfield. For far too long has the United midfield been easily cut through by the opposition, allowing them to get directly to the defense. The combination of Vidal and Carrick will hassle and harry the opposition players into giving the ball away much more often, causing United to have a hold on the ball for extended periods of matches. Vidal will prevent United's midfield from being overrun as he is more than able to take up the role of creator and push the game by moving forward with the ball while also passing it around. His ability to make fantastic recovery runs and then still put in a picture-perfect tackle will allow the United forwards and Michael Carrick to play with much more creative freedom, thus making the team play more beautiful football with the knowledge that the ball is going to eventually come back. Overall, Vidal would provide Manchester United with the dynamic box to box threat that the team has been lacking for a while.

The Key Problem:

There does not appear to be any problem for the team should Arturo Vidal join the club, but that is exactly the problem: how would Manchester United be able to convince Juventus to let Vidal join a rival for the Champions League, potentially giving another a vital part of their midfield while at the same time giving United what could be the last piece of the puzzle? While he is reported to be worth 31 million pounds, Juventus will most certainly ask much more money for one of their most influential players. He provides both vital attacking and defensive skills for the team at all times, thus making him central to the starting eleven. If United were going to buy him, it would be for an audacious amount of money and there would still be questions over whether or not he would actually want to go to United. Vidal is also only at the age of 26, with his prime still ahead of him, and only seeming to get better with every single season, so why should the Bianconeri management let him go? Sure, Paul Pogba is rising through the ranks and holds incredible promise, but he is not ready to fully take over the role that Vidal held at the club. Pogba will slowly and steadily get more and more playing time over the coming seasons as he takes over the role of Claudio Marchisio, while Pirlo will slowly approach retirement, no matter how ageless he may appear, Vidal will prove to be an important constant in the Juventus midfield, and if he were to leave the club, it would be either because Juventus were offered ludicrous amounts of money or because the Bianconeri management has simply lost it. To put it simply, it is very very unlikely that Juventus will sell Vidal at any price.

The Solution to the Problem?

If Manchester United were to somehow pull off a coup and somehow sign Arturo Vidal, it will be a massive gain for the club. He will provide the powerful, dynamic, box to box presence the club has been lacking for several years now, giving both a threat at goal while also being absolute quality in defending, thereby letting United control matches with ease, leading to goals galore. But it is highly unlikely that Vidal would be sold by Juventus, with the team likely to ask for much more than his reported cost of 31 million pounds, especially as he is at the age of 26 and ready to give his best years for the club. Manchester United would be greatly aided by his potential arrival, but he should have been bought back in 2011 when Juventus acquired his services at only 17.5 million pounds from Bayer Leverkusen. Overall, the perfect addition to the United midfield, though highly unlikely.

Likelihood: 2/10
Impact: 10/10

Manchester United Scouting Reports: Claudio Marchisio

Juventus have won the Serie A for two seasons in a row now, a huge turnaround for the club sparked by the arrivals of both Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo, giving the midfield a huge boost and improvement. They also have their future secured with the likes of Luka Marrone and Paul Pogba waiting in the wings, with Pogba especially taking his chance and becoming at least somewhat regular in the first team. While Pogba would have likely prevented Manchester United's current midfield problems from cropping up, reports suggest United are interested in a part of Juventus' MVP midfield: Claudio Marchisio. If he were to join United, how would he fit in? Could he be the solution to United's midfield hole?

Performance from Last Season:

Over the last season, Marchisio has been an important part of the Juventus midfield as the Bianconeri won the Serie A once again, for the second year in a row, though not repeating their "invincibles" performance from the season before. Marchisio made a midfield triumvirate with the likes of Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo, aiding Juventus in controlling proceedings in the matches that they played in. In the Champions League, Marchisio was important as Juventus reached the quarter-finals before losing to a masterclass by Bayern Munich. Throughout the season, however, he saw playing time slowly being chipped away as Paul Pogba slowly gained more and more playing time, looking to try and take his place. Nonetheless, over his 28 Serie A appearances, one of which came as a substitute, Marchisio averaged 42.6 passes per game, with 83.8% of his passes reaching their intended target, a pass completion number which is substantially less than that of Tom Cleverley. Nonetheless, he also completes an average of 3.1 long balls per game, showing his vision as well as his technical skill to pull off such a variety of passes with such consistency. In addition to this, he also made an average of 1.2 key passes per game, once again demonstrating his vision and his ability to create chances for his teammates, though he only had 1 league assist. While Juventus may be a top tier team, they have had notable striker issues therefore causing the chances that Marchisio would create for his teammates to be wasted. This issue has been resolved by the purchases of Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente, which should mean that Marchisio's assist numbers are likely to go up in the following season. He also can carry the ball forwards better than United's current midfielders at a rate of 0.8 dribbles per game, showing his ability to stamp his mark on the game. In addition to his passing abilities, he can provide a goal threat, as he took 2.1 shots per game, resulting in 6 league goals over the past season. Not only does he have good offensive qualities, it is in defending that he truly shines. He averages 2.7 tackles per game, a number higher than all of Manchester United's current midfielders as well as making 1.5 interceptions per game, another number that would put him towards the top of Manchester United midfielders. He does, however, commit 1.8 fouls per game but is only dispossessed once per game and turns the ball over 0.9 times per game, showing his abilities to simply hold onto the ball when necessary. His high defensive workrate, along with that of Arturo Vidal's allowed Andrea Pirlo to work his magic and take Juventus to the Serie A title.

How Would He Fit In?

Should Marchisio join Manchester United, he will surely partner Michael Carrick in the center of the park. Carrick's play largely involves him sitting back and protecting the defense while also orchestrating United's attacks from a deeper position. To be most effective, Carrick requires a box to box midfielder, or one who is strong and able to dominate in order to prevent United from playing too deep, a problem that would frequently crop up when both Carrick and Scholes would play in the same team. Marchisio possesses a fantastic engine which will allow him to move up and down, preventing Manchester United's attacks from stagnating by injecting both pace and energy into the team. His high defensive workrate also allows United's forwards in the form of Wayne Rooney, Shinji Kagawa, and Robin van Persie to have much more freedom and not worry as much about their defensive duties, only bettering the United attack with much more creativity and willingness to play freely. Furthermore, his box to box abilities will provide Manchester United with an additional threat when the team chooses to attack, giving opposition defenses an extra person to worry about, allowing at least one of United's players to be left free and available to receive a pass, slicing open defenses and leading to chances or even a goal. His ability to get into a good position to score a goal also will give United's midfield the much needed introduction of goals coming from the midfield, an aspect that has been lacking since the departure of both Paul Scholes and Roy Keane, both of whom were able to rush into the opposition box at the right moment in order to get a goal for themselves. In addition, his ability to pick out a key pass will create more chances for van Persie, Rooney, and Kagawa, leading to more goals and much more beautiful play from the team. His defensive capabilities will aid United in ensuring that fewer goals will be conceded from very quick counter attacks, a problem which was prevalent in the United team in the previous season, particularly in the 3-2 loss to Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford where the likes of Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon tore into the lack of pace and people at the United backline. Adding Marchisio will provide that extra defensive presence and only further aid in shoring up the defense, leading to less goals conceded and more goals scored. Overall, the potential transfer of Claudio Marchisio will greatly aid United in the coming seasons.

The Key Problem:

There are several potential problems coming out of the transfer of Claudio Marchisio. Firstly, Marchisio is at the age of 27, meaning that he is already in his prime and likely playing his best football right now. Conversely, his all action style of play cannot be held up for much longer; as he begins to age, his legs will certainly slow down, and he won't be able to provide the impact that he will in his first couple of seasons. That is a large problem especially considering that his play is especially dependent on his ability to work hard in both attacking as well as defending. Secondly, while he is certainly able to thread the through passes and create opportunities for his teammates, his passing accuracy and consistency is not as high as it can possibly be. He does not make too many passes and even then, he tends to give the ball away somewhat frequently. As a result, while his turnover rates are low enough, his passes do not reach his teammates often enough. Against good opposition like Bayern Munich, this is simply asking for trouble as Marchisio himself found out first hand while Juventus were systematically dismantled over two legs 4-0 on aggregate. Lastly, why would Marchisio wish to leave Juventus at all? He has been at the club since he was a little boy and is part of one of the greatest Italian clubs. A possibility of a transfer seems truly off as he is a Bianconeri at heart and he will never leave the club, likely not even at the possibility of huge amounts of money.

The Ideal Signing?

Should Manchester United acquire the services of Claudio Marchisio, it will represent a massive gain for the team in the present as he will prove to be integral in the midfield should he join as his engine will mean that he is able to contribute in both attack and defense. It will allow for United to dominate matches and truly prevent opposition teams from getting a true chance at the United goal. However, worries are there regarding his age; while he may be in his prime, his all action style of play cannot be held up for too many season, eventually leading to the same problem arising all over again. There are also worries about his passing completion percentage as well as his overall desire to leave Juventus in the first place, but nonetheless, he will prove to be absolute quality if signed by the club. His reported price at 27.5 million pounds is certainly less than Juventus are going to ask for should United attempt to sign him, yet if he is signed, he will prove to be an integral part of the United team in years to come.

Likelihood: 4/10
Impact: 9/10

Manchester United Scouting Reports: Sebastian Rode

Eintracht Frankfurt surprised many in the Bundesliga by finishing sixth in the league despite having been promoted in just the previous season. As a result, interest in their players has risen significantly. One such player is Sebastian Rode, the engine of the Frankfurt midfield, who has had a fantastic 2012/13 season. If anything, he can be the solution to Manchester United's persistent midfield issues. So how will Rode be able to impact United should he join?

Performance from Last Season:

Sebastian Rode was absolutely magnificent in the Eintracht Frankfurt midfield in the previous season, as he was the person who simply ran the proceedings in the center of the park. Not only did he provide the defense with sufficient cover to aid in preventing the concession of goals, he was able to provide an additional threat while going forward, aiding the front players such as Alexander Meier in order to create opportunities for his teammates in Frankfurt. He made a total of 33 appearances for Frankfurt in the Budesliga over the past season, a huge amount for one at the age of 22, showing the trust that the management has in his abilities. This trust was vindicated as he averaged 53.5 passes per game, at a completion rate of 84.4%. While he did make more passes per game than Tom Cleverley, his completion is not as high, though one should expect these statistics to improve if he were to join Manchester United, thus playing with better players and a better midfield. While someone may assume that he is simply playing backwards or sideways passes, that idea is dismissed by his long balls statistic: he completes an average of 5.4 long balls per game, at a completion rate of about 80%. For comparison, Michael Carrick completed 5.8 long balls per game for United in the previous season, though his completion rate was 75%. His ability to play long balls with such ease, especially at such a young age highlights both his vision and his ability to pick out teammates, an ability that will undoubtedly improve with time.

He can easily carry the ball forwards as well as he would make 1.5 dribbles per game, a statistic that his significantly higher than all of Manchester United's current midfielders. To highlight his ability to be able to carry the ball forwards, he completed more dribbles per game than Bastian Schweinsteiger and Yaya Toure, both players renowned for their ability to hold onto the ball and move it forward. In addition, Rode made 1 shot per game. another number higher than all of Manchester United's current midfielders, signifying his offensive threat, coupled with his average of 1 key pass per game. Despite this, he only had 1 assist in the whole season, something that can be put down to having inferior teammates than he would if he were at Manchester United, and zero goals, something which he should hopefully work on if especially considering he averages a shot per game. One might assume that due to his hard work in attack, he would sacrifice his defensive duties, but nothing can be farther from the truth. He averages 3.3 tackles per game, a number that is 1 tackle higher than Manchester United's current highest tackler in Michael Carrick. Rode also intercepts the ball 2.5 times per game, once again beating out all of United's midfielders in winning back the ball. He did, however, commit two fouls per game, a bit of a worry, though this is likely to improve with time. He only is dispossessed once per game, and turns the ball over to the opposition 0.8 times per game, numbers which are both slightly higher than United's current midfield options, but once again, should improve if he were to join. Overall, Rode proved to be the key in Eintracht Frankfurt's surprising season in the Bundesliga.

How Would He Fit In?

Simply put, he would slot in very nicely right next to Michael Carrick in the center of midfield. His defensive abilities will prove integral in Manchester United holding onto the ball as doing so will allow the team's forwards to roam with much more freedom than they currently can. The likes of Shinji Kagawa, Robin van Persie, and Wayne Rooney will be able to let their creative juices flow and create goals out of nothing. Both he and Carrick will prove to be a very solid pairing in the center of the park as they will be able to win the ball back quickly and with absolute ease. Combined, they should theoretically win the ball back 10.2 times per game, a massive increase for the team. It would seem to imply that United would be holding onto the ball for very long stretches of the match, as they both will be able to press and have the ball back in possession in next to no time at all. In addition, Rode's abilities to play the ball forwards will be reminiscent of Paul Scholes at his very best; along with Carrick, there will always be a solid plan B should quick, short, ground passes not be working for the team. Even then, if the midfield were to start becoming clogged, Rode can simply carry the ball forwards, as reflected by his dribbling statistic. If it is needed, he will be able to take the ball and move it up into higher areas of the pitch in a manner similar to that of Yaya Toure for Manchester City. His vision will provide an additional threat for the team when he does move forwards, thereby causing more problems for the opposition defense, as he can easily burst forward from a deep lying position right next to Michael Carrick and play a through pass with ease to one of the forwards, as reflected by his key passes statistic. In joining United, expect his passing completion to increase, as he will simply be playing with better players than he currently does and will only continue to grow into one of the finest defensive midfielders in the game. Simply put, Michael Carrick will be allowed to stay back in a deeper position, not being required to move forwards until necessary while Rode would partner him and move up and down the field to aid Carrick in his playmaking duties, as well as his defensive duties. Signing Rode would also allow Moyes to easily implement a high pressing game that he appears to want to utilize at the club, especially thanks to Rode's fantastic engine. If Carrick were to be shut down by the opposition midfield, Rode can easily take over his mantle, as he possesses both the vision and the technical skill to pick out long balls and short passes. All in all, it will be like getting a young Paul Scholes with the ability of Roy Keane in one player.

The Key Problem:

Worries would remain over Rode's abilities to perform under pressure. Would he be able to give his best against the very best in Europe? Doubts are there, especially considering his age. While he should certainly be able to dominate against many teams, can he do it against the very best in the world? It is likely that he would improve greatly with age but one would doubt he would do this right now. Despite this, if one were to look at Frankfurt's 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich, you would notice Rode still was able to perform quite well. He completed 84% of his passes, won two dribbles, and still was able to put in 4 tackles, against a team that simply dominated all competitions they participated in. This would suggest that Rode has the ability to perform at the highest level but one cannot ever say for sure. His passing accuracy is a little bit of a worry; while it is currently good, he must increase it to truly perform at the highest level. Furthermore, the amount of fouls he gives away is a bit of a worry. In the same match against Bayern, be also committed 4 fouls, a rather high number for a single player, and an average of 2 fouls per game is rather dangerous. Nonetheless, his ability to tackle would make up for this but at the highest level, few mistakes can be made. Against the likes of Bayern, against teams with strong, physical midfielders, he may certainly be able to perform, but will his youth and potential inexperience catch up to him? While he plays like a player who is five years older to him, he may still be a little rash in the tackle, and still make a mistake, but this is likely to be rectified as he learns and grows into a better player.

The Solution?

Considering the many factors that Rode brings to the table, his long passing, his ability to find the right passes in the right situation, his ability to carry the ball out, and of course, his ridiculously hard work in defending, anyone can easily see the skill that he brings to the table. Slight worries may come as his passing accuracy is quite decent but not as high as it can be, and he does have a tendency to give away fouls, but nonetheless, he is only at the age of 22, playing as though he has been playing as long as Ryan Giggs, and will only serve to get better and better, eventually into one of the world's best if he joins. Add a reported cost of only 7.9 million pounds, Rode is very, very cheap in today's inflated market, especially considering the kinds of performances he has turned in on a daily basis for Eintracht Frankfurt. All in all, Sebastian Rode could very easily transform into Manchester United's very own Bastian Schweinsteiger

Likelihood: 7/10
Impact: 10/10

Manchester United Scouting Reports: Toni Kroos

Pep Guardiola's arrival at Bayern Munich has led to some upheaval in the team of the German and European champions. The arrivals of Mario Gotze and Thiago Alcantara in particular has led to the Bayern midfield becoming very overcrowded so the question arises: who will be shipped out in order to make space for all of Bayern's talented players to get playing time? While Luiz Gustavo seems certain to go, with reports stating that he is about to join VFL Wolfsburg, there are some rumblings about Toni Kroos also possibly being removed in order to clear up some space in the Bayern midfield. A player of his talent should surely be gaining consistent playing time, and with Manchester United having troubles in their midfield, would Kroos United's savior?

Performance from Last Season:

Toni Kroos was a crucial cog in the Bayern team that won both the UEFA Champions League and the Bundesliga in the previous season. He proved to be a critical outlet for passes and was always setting up teammates, creating chances, and wreaking havoc on the opposition defense. He was also not at all afraid from getting back and helping out to defend with the rest of the team, though he consistently proved to be the brains behind most of Bayern's attacks. He used both his fantastic vision and technical abilities to both set up his teammates and bag a few goals for himself. In the Bundesliga, he made a total of 23 appearances, one of which came from the bench as a substitute. Over these 23 matches, Toni Kroos averaged 52.8 passes per game, 89.7% of which reached their target, showing his ability to easily make and complete passes to his teammates. Any accusations of him simply making backwards or sideways passes is negated by his key passes statistic, which shows that he made 2.8 key passes per game, displaying his vision to pick out his teammates and give them the ball. Furthermore, thanks to these abilities, he was able to score 6 goals and create 8 more for his teammates in the Bundesliga, again highlighting the fact that he is able to provide a creative goal scoring threat to the opposition. He also takes 2.2 shots per game, once again highlighting the fact that he provides an extra threat for the opposition defense to worry about. The fact that he makes 3.8 long balls per game further diminishes the notion of him only making very safe passes while also showcasing his vision to pick out his fellow players from a large distance as well as his superb technical abilities. He can also carry the ball forwards when necessary as he completes 1 dribble per game, a number which is higher than all of Manchester United's current midfield options. Even while making these many risky passes and pushing the ball forwards, Kroos was only dispossessed 1.3 times per game and he turned the ball over 0.9 times per game, both numbers being slightly higher than United's current midfielders. Nonetheless, despite having such a high offensive output, he is not at all afraid to get back and defend, making an average of 1.6 tackles per game and 0.6 interceptions per game in the Bundesliga, both numbers being only 0.1 less than that of Tom Cleverley's. He did, however give away 0.9 fouls per game, but nonetheless, these are very good defensive statistics for such a creative player.

How Would He Fit In?

While Toni Kroos most certainly shines playing as an attacking midfielder, he is more than capable of playing in a deeper, more creative role for the team, as demonstrated several times for Bayern Munich in the previous season. He would more than likely either replace Tom Cleverley or Michael Carrick in the first team, more than likely replacing Cleverley as the partner to Carrick. He may also quite possibly play up front with the likes of Shinji Kagawa, Wayne Rooney, and Robin van Persie, but for the sake of this article, it will be assumed that he shall replace Cleverley as partner to Carrick in order to ensure that at least one winger is consistently playing in the team. If Kroos were to be bought by United, he would significantly help out Carrick in his creative duties by being able to do what Cleverley already does but only better. Kroos plays more long balls per game. makes more dribbles per game, more shots, more goals, more assists, more passes, a completing 0.5 less passes per game, though being dispossessed and turning the ball over more, this can be put down to Kroos playing the majority of the season for Bayern in a central attacking midfielder position. Same can be applied to his defensive statistics, which are only 0.1 lower than Cleverley despite playing in a much more forward position than Cleverley. Should he join and partner Carrick, Kroos would shuttle up and down the field while Carrick would conduct the play from a deep lying position. He would both come back and defend when necessary and go forward and provide an additional creative threat to aid United's already talented attackers. His ability to play long balls and key passes to create chances for his teammates while also maintaining a high passing completion percentage will not only ensure that the midfield will keep on running and Manchester United will always have the ball, the team will also be able to provide a solid threat to the opposition from both the deep as well as from the front lines. His genius vision and technical abilities will not only help United when the team is dominating the match and having full control, it can also be used to quickly launch counter-attacks by moving the ball upfield quickly from a set piece to one of the forwards and thus set up a chance for United themselves. All in all, Toni Kroos will provide a very solid creative threat from a deeper position for United and will only serve to get better as the years pass by, especially considering he is only at the age of 23.

The Key Problem:

While signing Toni Kroos will prove to be a fantastic addition to the squad, he will not be able to provide a strong, physical presence to aid Carrick should United be facing stronger, more physical midfielders. The front line needs to be based off of a solid midfield partnership in order to allow complete freedom to the forward players. If there is no solid midfield behind them, the forwards are unable to roam freely and destroy opposition defenses as they will be forced to come back and defend should they lose the ball. While Kroos will certainly aid United when attacking, when faced against a powerful midfield pairing, he and Carrick will likely be shut down; he is simply not physical enough. While his tackling and interception numbers should certainly increase if he is moved back to a deeper position, one has to worry about the fact that the midfield will still be overrun much in the way that Bayern overran the Barcelona midfield this past season. The midfield will simply be too lightweight to deal with the likes of Bayern, Real, and Juventus. While Kroos will be able to play a key role from the deep both now and in the future by replacing Carrick, he needs someone who is more physical and can provide cover to allow him full freedom to play the way he wishes, much in the way Sami Khedira allows Xabi Alonso to control the Real Madrid midfield by taking care of the dirty work and simply getting stuck in.

The Perfect Signing?

Simply put, if Toni Kroos were to be signed by Manchester United, the team would gain a huge, talented player who will only get better and better in the future, especially as he is only at the age of 23. His vision, passing, and creativity are all fantastic and if partnering Michael Carrick at the heart of the United midfield, the options and potential to create are simply limitless. There is a rather large worry of him simply not being physical enough to aid United against much bigger and stronger midfield players. While a majority of the time this should not be a worry, against the better sides in Europe and in England, it is simply asking for trouble. Should he be signed, however, United will have gained one of the brightest prospects in Europe, though an additional, more physical yet technically proficient presence will still be needed by the club. At the reported price of 28 million pounds, and the age of 23, he will be a pricey yet very good improvement for the club, but the question remains as to whether or not he will actually leave Bayern Munich, and if so, United will still have a problem on their hands, no matter how good Kroos may be.

Likelihood: 4/10
Impact: 8.5/10

Manchester United Scouting Reports: Luiz Gustavo

The arrival of Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich along with those of Mario Gotze and Thiago Alcantara has left Bayern's midfield rather crowded, thus prompting some to suggest that at least one of the midfielders are open to a move. One who is most likely to be moved out to accommodate these new signings is likely going to be Luiz Gustavo, a great player who is unfortunately in a squad who has midfielders who are simply better than him. Considering Manchester United's desperate need for a midfielder, would he not be the perfect choice?

Performance from Last Season:

Luiz Gustavo proved to be an important rotation midfielder for Bayern Munich in their treble winning season. He provided important quality backup to Bastian Schweinsteiger and Javi Martinez, allowing them to take rest before important matches such as before Bayern Munich's thrashing of Barcelona over two legs in the Champions League Semi-Final. But it was in the FIFA Confederations Cup that he truly shone, providing dominant performances in the midfield with his partner in crime Paulinho. Together, they allowed Brazil's forwards to have complete freedom and their hard work in both winning the ball and keeping it moving culminated in Brazil's 3-0 smashing of Spain in the Confederations Cup Final, allowing Brazil to lift the trophy for the third time in a row and for the fourth time overall.

In the Bundesliga, Gustavo made a total of 22 appearances, with 6 of them coming as a substitute. Throughout this, he averaged 42.7 passes per game, a number which is about 6 lower than Tom Cleverley at Manchester United, but he had a higher pass completion percentage when compared, with 93% of his passes reaching their target. While certainly being able to hold onto the ball, he does not quite have the ability to play a killer through ball with him only making 0.3 key passes per game, lower than all of Manchester United's current midfielders. Defensively, he will be very solid, as he completed an average of 2.5 tackles per game while also having 1.5 interceptions per game, both of these statistics being an upgrade from Tom Cleverley and his tackling number being higher than that of Michael Carrick's. He is also certainly able to play the long balls, completing 3.7 on average per game, thus showing he is able to spread the play and help to provide different options when attacking. Furthermore, he averaged 0.7 successful dribbles per game, a number which would make him the highest in United's current squad along with Anderson, displaying his ability to push the ball forward and force the game when needed. He does commit an average of 1.7 fouls per game, however, and also is dispossessed 1.4 times per game, highlighting a tendency to maybe struggle a little under pressure, though it is made up by his ability to win the ball back quickly and easily thanks to his tackling and interception abilities. He only turns the ball over 0.3 times per match, again showing that he makes clean and simple passes to make sure the midfield is ticking and moving around, thus allowing the more creative players to have much more freedom. He also scored 3 league goals and provided an assist, which only furthers the point of him sitting back and helping control the midfield allowing for the others to have more freedom to play how they wish. Added to the fact that he is 26 and is likely entering his prime, he will only get better.

How Would He Fit In?

Luiz Gustavo would more than likely slot in right next to Michael Carrick in the heart of the Manchester United midfield. He would play simple passes, while occasionally pulling off a long ball out to to the wings or forwards, thereby allowing United to push forward quicker when needed. His ability to both put in a tackle as well as position himself in order to intercept the ball both mean that Carrick will be given much more creative freedom, meaning that he will simply be allowed to orchestrate attacks from a deep lying position without having to worry as much as he currently does, giving him a role similar to Andrea Pirlo's at Juventus. By also knowing when to burst forward and when to stay back, Gustavo would provide both an additional presence when Manchester United choose to press forward as well as a player quick to get back and take the ball as soon as it is lost by other players in the team. His defensive prowess will prove integral to giving the likes of Shinji Kagawa, Wayne Rooney, and Robin van Persie freedom to roam, particularly if he were to help protect the left wing. Why would he be helping protect the left wing? Simply because if either Kagawa or Rooney were to be playing on the left wing (as the formation sheet would show), they would not help the defense out as much as Ashley Young or even Nani. This would leave Patrice Evra completely open to being exploited down United's left hand side and a strong presence will prove to be integral to aid Evra when faced with quality wingers, in an addition to shoring up the defense by helping ease the pressure on the defenders, allowing them to simply concentrate on their defensive duties while not having to face a relentless wave of opposition attacks, like what happened in the previous season. Gustavo also has a powerful long shot, one that will certainly give the opposition an extra worry when Manchester United are to attack. Not only do they have to worry about the abilities of Rooney, van Persie, Kagawa, and most likely Nani, they will also have to be aware of the possibility of Luiz Gustavo sneaking up from behind and providing an extra option in the attack. His ability to be strong and hopefully dominate matches will prove to be very important for Manchester United in the coming years as Michael Carrick will be slowly eased out of the first team with one of the youngsters or a creatively minded midfielder coming in to replace him.

The Key Problem:

Any problem with this signing likely stems from what appears to be a lack of creativity in him. While he most certainly is able to pass the ball around and move to the right spots to pass it on, he appears to be rather conservative on his passes, thus likely leading to his high completion rate. This creativity problem is very unlikely to crop up in many matches that United play in, but if against top tier European opposition, questions will arise on what would happen if Michael Carrick were to be marked out of the game. Sure Gustavo would keep on playing his passes but if Carrick's extra creative threat were to be taken out of the game, Manchester United would surely have problems. While Gustavo may be able to push the ball forwards and provide it to United's front line, his apparent inability to play a key pass may be a worry should Carrick be shut down in a big game, likely against the likes of the very club Luiz Gustavo would be coming from: Bayern Munich. As was seen in their match against Juventus, Marko Mandzukic hounded Andrea Pirlo and simply prevented him from conducting the orchestra as he usually does so majestically, thereby causing the Bianconeri to lose a vital part of their play, not having their main playmaker available to them. While this is an issue that is unlikely to crop up, it can be exploited by the best, likely being the barrier between United and being the Champions of Europe for a fourth time.

The Ideal Solution?

More likely than not, yes, he will be a very good signing if he were to be picked up by David Moyes and co. Able to both win the ball back easily while also being able to keep the midfield ticking and playing the long balls to the forwards to allow them to completely express themselves with creative freedom, Luiz Gustavo will prove to be an integral part of the Manchester United midfield if he were to join. At the age of 26, he only has his best years ahead of him, and will help bridge the gap as Michael Carrick is slowly taken out of the first team and a newer, younger face takes over his creative duties. Worries about his inability to orchestrate play do remain and might be exploited by the best in Europe, but at a reported price of only 16 million pounds and likely being open to a move thanks to Bayern's very crowded midfield, Gustavo will be a fantastic addition to Manchester United's current team.

Likelihood: 7/10
Impact: 9.5/10

Manchester United Scouting Reports: Yohan Cabaye

Manchester United's needs for a new central midfielder are rather well documented. As such, the press have constantly been linking the club to many midfielders, one of whom is Yohan Cabaye. Playing for Newcastle United, he has truly shone in the past two seasons, with many reports linking the Frenchman to a bigger club, and who bigger than Manchester United? It seems as though the signing would be useful, but how useful? We shall take a look at Cabaye to see whether or not it is worth United's time in chasing the player, and how his signing will impact the club.

Performance from Last Season:

Over the previous season, Yohan Cabaye has been proven to be an integral part of the Newcastle midfield. He helps to keep the ball moving in the team as well as helping to set up his teammates for chances on goal. He certainly has an ability to score amazing free kicks, as was evident in his goal against United in the 2011/12 season (3-0 win at St. James' Park). In his 26 league appearances for Newcastle United last season, he averaged 45.1 passes per game, putting him on level with the likes of Tom Cleverley in Manchester United's current midfield. He did, however, complete only 79.3% of his passes on average, a number that most certainly needs to be improved if he is to make an impact in the United first team. For comparison's sake, Cleverley completes 90.2% of the passes he attempts, indicating a very large difference between the two players. Cabaye does have the ability to play very good long balls, as indicated by his 5.4 completed long balls per game, putting him on par with the likes of Michael Carrick in the current United midfield. Another aspect of his game which is quite similar to the current players at Manchester United is his dribbles per game; at 0.3 it does not represent a significant upgrade to the choices already available to David Moyes. The Frenchman take many more shots than any of United's midfielders, averaging about 2.3 shots per game, unlike Cleverley, who has the highest out of the current batch of United midfielders, at 0.9 shots per game. Defensively, Cabaye is very solid, and will provide good cover to the defenders. He completes 3.1 tackles per game, a number which is drastically higher than the current closest in the United midfield which is from Michael Carrick at 2.3 tackles per game. Furthermore, Cabaye intercepts the ball an average of 2.1 times per game, again putting him at the same level as Michael Carrick. Combined, these two stats put him on a level above the current crop in the United midfield. However, he does give away 1.6 fouls per game, a number that needs to go down. He is also dispossessed 1.1 times per game and turns the ball over 0.7 times per game; a little higher than the midfielders already available to David Moyes but nonetheless not too shabby. Finally, Cabaye completes 2 key passes per game, once again showcasing his ability to play a killer pass on a level higher than his United teammates, as the highest from Mancehster United is only 1. Overall, Yohan Cabaye had a very strong season in the year gone by.

How Would He Fit In?

Should Yohan Cabaye come to Manchester United, he will either play one of two roles: provide an alternative if Carrick were to be injured, suspended or rested, or play as a partner to Michael Carrick, thereby replacing Tom Cleverley in the current lineup. He will provide an extra goal threat direct from deeper in midfield to aid the attack, especially by possessing both a killer long shot as well as very nice vision to see and play out the right passes. Should Tom Cleverley be replaced by Cabaye, one can expect much more possession for United as both Cabaye and Carrick are very similar in terms of their ability to win the ball back. Both have identical interception rates while Cabaye completes many more tackles per game. His ability to play a long ball will also help in both spreading the play out to United's wingers, or launching a counter-attack directly from an opposition set piece. Speaking of set pieces, he can take corners and free kicks as well, allowing both Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie to be a presence in the box while the set piece is being taken, thereby providing an additional threat for the team rather than losing one of their striking talents by having them take the set piece. He would provide goals from a deep lying position, especially as he scored more league goals than all of United's current midfielders combined. One should be expecting much more attacking play by Manchester United if Yohan Cabaye were to arrive as his penchant to go for a Hollywood style pass would provide opportunities to United's front four. He won't be able to provide lung bursting runs from deep but will be able to help Carrick orchestrate play from the deep allowing United's forwards run riot with opposition defenses. He will provide another creative outlet along with Carrick, Rooney, and Kagawa, but his defensive abilities will mean that the team should not be compromised if they over commit to attacking. Cabaye's tackling and interception skills will also allow Carrick to have much more freedom in orchestrating the attacks from deep, as he will not have to worry about losing the ball as much, allowing for what could potentially be much flashier and appealing football as a whole for the team. Overall, Yohan Cabaye would provide a solid addition to Manchester United's current midfield.

The Key Problems:

There are three big worries that come when thinking about the potential transfer of Yohan Cabaye to United. The first big problem is his current passing completion percentage, which is only at 79.5%. This is far too low for a midfielder if he were to join United, especially considering the kind of opposition he will be facing in the UEFA Champions League. Even in the Premier League, having so many incomplete passes is simply not acceptable. While against smaller opposition it may be okay, but against the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, and even Arsenal, it is very dangerous to be giving the ball away at such a rate. While his completion rate should certainly go up if he joins United, he will need to step up his game as a whole if he wishes to go up into an elite level of play. The second red flag is simply his size. While he may still make tackles by the dozen and make many interceptions, he is not at all what someone would call physically dominant. He may have proven himself in the Premier League by playing with Newcastle but up against bigger and stronger opponents, he would very likely be simply pushed off the ball. While he certainly has plenty of muscle, especially for a player of his size, against the likes of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, pairing him with Carrick is a very risky proposition. The third big problem with Cabaye is the rate at which he gives up fouls to the opposing team. His current rate of 1.6 fouls per game is double the worst in United's current midfield. While it will very likely improve with a solid midfield partner in the form of Michael Carrick, it will still be a worry giving away a set piece in potentially a very dangerous position, especially going back to the point that he is short, and unlikely to be physically dominant when defending a set piece. 

An Ideal Addition?

While Yohan Cabaye may not be the answer to Manchester United's midfield woes, he certainly will provide an extra dimension and give an improvement to the current midfield options. His ability to win back the ball will surely only serve to help out Michael Carrick and his ability to play a killer long ball or through pass thanks to his vision will greatly expand the range of options in Manchester United's link-up play to set up goals. In addition, his long shot is an additional threat to the opposition, potentially giving United's front four extra space and time on the ball due to the defense having to worry about his presence. Concerns do remain about his size, physical dominance, fouling rate and pass completion rates, especially if United were to face top tier European or even English opposition. Nonetheless, at his reported price of 14.5 million pounds and at the age of 27, thus entering his prime years and beyond, he could be a very good addition to the squad. Overall, a midfielder Manchester United would like, but not the one they need.

Likelihood: 7/10
Impact: 8/10