Manchester United and the quest to make mythical midfield a reality | Football

MIDDLE MEN

Like the urban myth that you are never more than three feet away from a spider, modern footballing lore tells us Manchester United are only ever three signings away from a Premier League title challenge. With the Geopolitics World Cup in the rear-view mirror and the transfer news machine churning once more, you may have missed United being linked with just about every midfielder to ever grace a centre circle. They missed out on Elliot Anderson – who went and dubbed his new club the “kings of Manchester” – and were fooled into thinking they could snare Aurélien Tchouaméni. They danced briefly with Atalanta’s Éderson, before landing on Chelsea resale project prospect Andrey Santos and former Aston Villa linchpin Youri Tielemans. And United aren’t done with their midfield overhaul – rightly so given they have lost Casemiro to Inter Miami and Manuel Ugarte to long-term knee knack. Next up on United’s extensive longlist: Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga and Fulham’s Sander Berge, plus France GWC sensation Manu Koné as Michael Carrick eyes the final piece in his midfield puzzle.

The problem with United over the past 13 years has been that it’s never actually the final piece. It would be kind to call their post-Ferguson transfer hit rate scattergun. Ángel Di María was the first final piece in the puzzle. Then it was Alexis Sánchez. Then Fred. And then Jadon Sancho. Something needed to change. So say what you like about Big Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s recent, purse-tightening Old Trafford regime, but they’ve not flopped anywhere near as hard in the transfer market as their predecessors. Only Ugarte and Joshua Zirkzee can be deemed true flops under the Ineos boys. Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha were smart additions a year ago, Senne Lammens was a scouting triumph and United are threatening to go again with their sensible signings policy – who’d have thunk it?! – with a combined £85m on Santos and Tielemans representing far better value than splashing that same amount on relegation specialist Matheus Fernandes. Finding value in the market is almost impossible nowadays, but credit to these fellas, they’re giving it a go.

What feels quite apt with Carrick at the wheel is that United’s biggest struggle this summer has been to find a true midfield destroyer. That moniker certainly doesn’t fit Santos, nor Tielemans. Tchouaméni was always unattainable so United are getting creative, as they did when Carrick was sought as Roy Keane’s replacement in 2006, less a like-for-like replacement and more a style shift. OK, it could be argued that Berge – an experienced screening No 6 – could step into the Casemiro void after a promising GWC campaign, but Camavinga and Koné like to charge around putting out fires, so perhaps United are following the mould of other top clubs and dispensing with the idea of the Makélélé role.

Modern football is all about excess, whether that be GWC participants, number of games, or transfer fees going beyond £100m for apparently workmanlike players. United have long threatened to descend into financial overspill, but after a steady season under a steady manager, are they finally grasping the concept of modest frugality? Roll up, roll up: ditch the merch-baiting marquee signing and grab yourself three all-purpose midfielders, all for reasonable prices! It surely cannot last.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“This is ideally the high point of my career, of my life, my professional life. I will give it everything I have (but) if you (reporters) tomorrow start saying: ‘He’s sh!t,’ tell me to my face and I’m out. If you behave badly and don’t leave my family in peace, I’m gone, I’ll just turn away” – Jürgen Klopp takes the Germany job and proves that he should still be good for a quote or two.

Re: Simon Mazier’s letter about the location of Iraola’s Amazon parcel (Thursday’s Football Daily). If the delivery guy is anything like ours, the player will turn up at the Etihad” – Dave Eddy.

It would be even worse for Iraola to receive a card saying that his new signing has been left with a neighbour … Everton” – Paul Taverner.

At least if Bezos buys into Liverpool, they get next-day delivery, music, and a TV channel. They can also send back any players they don’t want and get a full refund” – Jeff Bez Peter Arnold.

Matt Targett is staying in the north east with Hull City (yesterday’s email edition)? The north east begins at the River Tees, some 110 miles north of Hull. Geography lessons needed” – Geoff Brodie (and 1,056 others).

If you have any, please send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s prizeless letter o’ the day goes to … Dave Eddy. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, are here. 

RECOMMENDED FOLLOWING

Big Website: on BlueSpace, TikBook, Instachat, you name it.