Five Plan Bs for Man United if world-record deal proves impossible
As far as transfer talk goes, Manchester United being willing to pay in excess of £100m for Paul Pogba is a real ‘sit up and take notice’ story.
It’s already been claimed that a deal is in place with the 23-year-old and all signs point towards the club being keen on the Frenchman, especially with Jose Mouirinho having intimated that he wants one more big name to follow Eric Bailly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan to Old Trafford this summer.
Alas, until the ink has dried on a contract, talk of Pogba to Man United remains just that, ‘talk’.
It would be no surprise to see the bombarding midfielder turn his back on the Red Devils, after all, they were willing to let him walk out on a free transfer in 2012 and the club don’t boast Champions League football for the coming campaign. Indeed, Real Madrid may come into the saga, and when they get involved they usually get what they want!
So, it would be wise for Man united to look at some ‘Plan B’ options, and here are FIVE…
Blaise Matuidi
Perhaps more of a ‘Mourinho player’ than Pogba, the Juventus man’s international compatriot appears well suited to what the Portuguese tactician demands from his midfielders.
Matuidi has long been one of the most underrated players in his position in European football, with his energy, industry and explosiveness having been key in Paris Saint-Germain’s rise to be Ligue 1’s undisputed kings.
Rumours have circulated recently that the 29-year-old may indeed be available amid PSG’s summer shake-up, and, at a fraction of Pogba’s mooted price, he could be one of the steals of the window.
Radja Nainggolan
A popular name in the rumour mill at the moment, Nainggolan has been heavily aligned with Chelsea, but could fit the bill for Manchester United, too.
His unorthodox appearance makes him stand out from the crowd, but the most impressive thing about him is his energy in the middle of the pitch.
Nicknamed ‘The Ninja’, the Roma man has developed a reputation for hurtling around the engine room and winning the ball back for his team with the sort of tenacity that has been squeezed out of many of his modern day counterparts.
Oh, and he has a rocket of a shot, too!
https://vine.co/v/5aae36WnBFH/embed/simple
N’Golo Kante
The unsung (albeit he was heavily lauded) star of Leicester’s title rise, Kante would be the ideal option for Manchester United in terms of an outright defensive midfielder. The energetic ex-Caen man offers little going forward, but his athleticism, tactical awareness and sheer work-rate stood out last term, and have done for France at EURO 2016.
Although Leicester are in a fine position to keep hold of their man, their recent swoop for Nampalys Mandy – who has already been dubbed Kante 2.0 by many – indicates that they could be persuaded to let their man leave.
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Nemanja Matic
It may be a slightly lazy rumour, but Matic to Manchester United form Chelsea has been mooted since Mourinho’s Old Trafford arrival. The Serbian was the anchor point of ‘The Special One’s’ midfield during his last title win in west London, but his form dipped so low last term that Antonio Conte may be willing to sanction his exit to a direct rival.
Although not the most mobile of engine room operators, Matic has Premier League experience and is a formidable presence when fully fit and at the top of his game.
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Andre Gomes
Currently one of the most talked about players in Europe, Gomes is a different mould of midfielder to the rest on this list, but he could be effective in a Mourinho team nonetheless.
The silky 22-year-old is known for his cool passing and composed playing style, which has already drawn links between himself and Manchester United – albeit some reports claim ‘Mou’ has dropped his interest.
Currently gearing up for a EURO 2016 Final clash with either France or Germany, Gomes won’t come cheap, but he could be Mourinho’s new Cesc Fabregas.
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