Sir Jim Ratcliffe has identified the kind of midfielder he wants for Manchester United this summer, using Paul Scholes as the archetype.
There are several positions that Manchester United are expected to be keen on strengthening this summer, but central midfield is among the most important.
With Kobbie Mainoo a guaranteed starter, there is a place up for grabs at Old Trafford next to him and Sir Jim Ratcliffe has now pinpointed the player archetype he wants to sign, that being legendary United midfielder Paul Scholes.
He explains “Paul Scholes. I think that’s the player that’s most missing. Casemiro and Mainoo are sort of quite defensive midfielders, but they don’t have a Scholes or an [Andres] Iniesta…”
But with several positions thought to be more pressing concerns such as defence and a striker, midfield could be left looking for some bargain deals.
Here are three midfielders who wouldn’t break the bank for United this summer, while being well suited to the role Ratcliffe wants to strengthen.
Aleix Garcia – Girona
The first player we’d suggest is probably the biggest bargain on the market this summer and there will be stiff competition for his signature, it’s Girona’s Aleix Garcia.
Garcia is 26 but has really exploded this season and has been a key part of the Girona side which has shocked everyone this season despite early title aspirations being foiled.
With 28 La Liga appearances this season, he’s been an ever-present figure in the team, playing 94 per cent of the games possible. For this, he has accumulated three goals and six assists all from either central midfield or a more defensive role.
He is in the 97th percentile for assists and also chances created (47) which is a remarkable figure from midfield as per FotMob, which demonstrates his progressive play.
His defensive work doesn’t quite set the world alight, but paired with Mainoo the hope would be they’d form a formidable partnership together.
The Spaniard is thought to have a release clause of just £17m according to Mundo Deportivo, which in this market is an absolute bargain and he could be ideal for Erik ten Hag‘s new-look midfield.
Exequiel Palacios – Bayer Leverkusen
The second name on our list is slightly more pricey than his two counterparts but with a reported asking price of £51m he’d still be a bargain in this market and has already been linked with United.
Exequiel Palacios of Bayer Leverkusen is another player in the midst of the best season of his career to date under the tutelage of Xabi Alonso.
This season he’s played 20 Bundesliga games for Bayer, scoring three and assisting four in the process, while also having two goals in three DFB-Pokal fixtures.
His immense form has seen Bayer shoot toward a Bundesliga title win with Palacios being key, with an average match rating of 8.1 as per FotMob.
The World Cup-winning Argentine is only 25, but already looks like a complete midfielder capable of doing everything, anywhere on the pitch from defence to attack he can do it all.
He is a relentless runner, but also has tremendous technical ability to find passes in tricky situations and has a goal in him too exactly like Scholes.
Partnered with Mainoo, United could boast the best midfield in the league with impeccable ball retention along with both having the quality to make things happen with the flip of a switch.
Martin Baturina – Dinamo Zagreb
The final name on this list is one which is slightly left field but could be a masterstroke from Ratcliffe and his new footballing structure is the Croatian wonderkid labelled as the next Luka Modric, it’s Martin Baturina.
Baturina is a diminutive technically gifted midfielder capable of creating moments of absolute magic on the ball but will also do the hard work and battle hard for his team showcased by the fact he’s won 89 per cent of his duels this season as per Total Football Analysis.
He’s been utilised further forward in his early career for Dinamo Zagreb but his future could well lie in a midfield pivot or as a number eight in a three.
He loves to be on the ball and when he gets it, he can find progressive passes or take the ball forward himself thanks to his low centre of gravity, similar to Andres Iniesta.
This season he has scored four and assisted two goals in 24 games, but last season showcased his best work scoring six and assisting 12.
He ranks in the 97th percentile for chances created with 53 and really could be the attack-minded midfielder Ratcliffe is craving. Additionally, with the player’s stock not currently high, he could be worth a punt with a current valuation of just £10.2m.
Not a player we’d think would immediately light the world up, but the potential is boundless and Ratcliffe did admit he wants to sign the next Jude Bellingham rather than the finished product.
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