Joao moutinho – The man to solve Manchester United’s midfield crisis ???

Moving on from the disappointment of last season, Manchester United improved their firepower in attack with the recent acquisitions of Kagawa and Powell and are now looking for reinforcements to strengthen other departments. There were stories about United bidding for Lucas Moura and the bid being rejected but the main cause of concern was in the middle of the park. We still await a world class signing in that position.

We are primarily a quick, counter-attacking team and the central midfielders are rarely the stars of the show in such a game plan. But there is a serious dearth in the center of the park. Fletcher is nowhere near a return, Giggs is becoming too old to play a complete game, Scholes cannot finish matches but is still super class. Anderson cannot stay fit and has consistently underachieved while Cleverley is very unlucky so far with injuries.

It leaves only one proper reliable central midfielder in Carrick. Of course, there are talents like Tunnicliffe, Petrucci, Hendrie, Lingard coming up through the ranks, but they directly can’t be released into the tough competition of the Premier League. So, lets analyze whether Moutinho is an efficient talent to solve United’s midfield conundrum

 What sort of player he is ?

Moutinho is an awesome talent, but lets not get carried away only by his performance (against Spain in Euros). He’s a talented box to box midfielder but is not the kind of playmaker like Modric or Sneijder that United were linked with. He can play in different midfield roles but the main position he is deployed is in the center of the park where he’s efficient and possesses the technical ability to aid his tenacious display.

How would he fit into United setup ?

He has the work ethos that United need in the center of the park. To get the best out of Kagawa, we need someone who can wrestle and win the ball back in the middle of the pitch and set up the fluency of a counter attack. Only Moutinho, Javi Martinez, Strootman can be options worth considering here.

If he joins in as a Red Devil, United can easily play 4-2-3-1 or employ 4-3-2-1 with the two players playing as wide midfielders.

Illustration of the same, depicting the front six.

——————rooney——————-
young/nani— kagawa —-valencia
—–moutinho-carrick/scholes——–

Is it a worthy signing ? Do United need him ?

He is the typical Central midfielder. He can spray passes to keep the game flowing and can also be defensively solid. Has the technical ability and the potential to make the killer pass. He can also learn and shape up awesomely under the watchful guidance of Paul Scholes, who has undoubtedly been the lynchpin of the United midfield.

Moutinho can also play in the diamond formation. But United would never employ such a formation as, without wingers, United don’t look real menacing. United surely need a CM, and i’ll be lot disappointed if Kagawa is played as a central midfielder in a 4-4-2 or as a left winger. It will be a waste to buy someone excelling as a playmaker in the final third if he’s not deployed in the hole.

Transfer destination ?

Top European clubs have been linked with him. As of now, it is a two way race between Manchester United and Tottenham to sign this talented player. Porto would surely be demanding a substantial fee for his departure but working with old boss (AVB) may work in  Spurs’ favor, although United can offer Champions League Football.

Indeed there are talents available like Draxler, Eriksen, Alacantra but what United need unquestionably is a ball winning midfielder. I am hoping at least one of Moura, Moutinho or some other talented central midfielder is signed to redece the deficiencies of the Red Devils.