Almost every player has their doubters when they are purportedly on the move to a new club. This summer is no different. It’s not hard to find Manchester United fans asking out loud “why Nemanja Matic?”
The Serbian is not rated as highly as he should be. He was twice provided the muscle in midfield to power Chelsea to the Premier League title, first under Mourinho in 2015 as Cesc Fabregas’ near-at-hand bodyguard, and then alongside N’Golo Kante in the a genuinely dynamic duo, relied upon by Antonio Conte to give his 3-4-2-1 traction.
However, it seems that he is about to lose his place in the first team at Stamford Bridge with the impending arrival of Tiemoue Bakayoko from Monaco, and while it could make sense for the 28-year-old to move north for a chance to be reunited with his former manager, it’s hard to see what he adds to United’s options.
In Ander Herrera, the club already have a battle-ready scrapper who can do more with the ball, and it would seem more prudent to try and replace the aged Michael Carrick instead of doubling up a role that is already catered for.
For all his qualities, it isn’t clear how Matic would complement or complete the midfield set that already exists at Old Trafford. The concern is that by going back to what he knows to spend some serious money on Matic, Mourinho could repeat the mistake that was made by David Moyes in 2013.
It must sting United supporters to see Thiago Alcantara thriving at Bayern Munich – the player they saw slip through their fingers after reportedly dithering over his signing that summer. Moyes ended up signing Marouane Fellaini from Everton at a price higher than his release clause instead of bringing in more ambitious or better-suited alternatives to the Belgian.
Below are the other options that could be available to the club this summer and how they differ from Nemanja Matic.
William Carvalho
A perennial feature of every Premier League summer transfer window rumour mill, Carvalho has proven himself to be more than just a handy link for headline writers playing at the base of Sporting Club de Portugal’s midfield.
How he’s different to Matic
Less of a marauder charging forward to close down opponents, Carvalho is more interested in making himself available to take, keep and recycle the ball, kick-starting moves from in front of his defence and controlling the tempo of games. He could cover for Carrick’s role without demanding a start in the team every week.
Key stat: The 25-year-old was second in the Portuguese top flight for successful passes last season with 1,936.
Ignacio Camacho
The austere enforcer at the heart of Malaga’s midfield, Camacho is a midfielder who focuses on winning possession and spoiling the opposition’s plans in order to allow his team to play.
How he’s different to Matic
While the Serbian tries to do a bit of everything, the Spaniard is under no illusions as to his strengths and weaknesses as a player, and has become a specialist at killing off any attempts to build up a rhythm among an opposing team’s midfield. It’s easy to see how he would find a use as man-marker and destroyer for Mourinho.
Key stat: First for interceptions in La Liga last season with 115, Camacho was also third for tackles won with 85.
Javi Martinez
Despite regularly playing in defence for Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich, the former Athletic Club player showed why he is one of the best defensive midfielders in the world as he sat back in front of their back four to win the first-ever treble in German football in 2013.
How he’s different to Matic
Excellent positional intelligence, strength in the tackle and in the air, an unfussy yet effective passing style and tactical discipline to hold his position and marshal his team into keeping their shape. He is less combative than Matic, who prefers to get at opponents rather than screen his defence.
Key stat: The Spaniard has made only one defensive error in five seasons for Bayern in the Bundesliga.
Saul Niguez
The rising star of Atletico Madrid’s midfield, the Spaniard can do it all, and has at various points for Diego Simeone. He would be an expensive player to sign, especially after agreeing to a six-year deal, but potentially worth the trouble.
How he’s different to Matic
A younger alternative who is already arguably more accomplished as a mobile, box-to-box presence who can win the ball, keep possession, create chances and get forward to score goals.
Key stat: No midfielder has scored more goals in the knockout stages of the Champions League since January 2016 than Saul, who has six.
Jorginho
Napoli’s Brazil-born master passer is the understated brains at the back of their ball-hungry midfield base.
How he’s different to Matic
Another deeper-lying passer who prefers to control the game, keep opponents at arm’s length with his timing and positioning and cut out and intercept threats rather than rampage through the middle, the Italy international is an even more prolific passer than Carrick has ever been for United.
Key stat: No player attempted more passes per 90 minutes across Europe’s top five leagues last season than Jorginho (109.19). He completed 100 passes in nine separate games in Serie A in 2016/17.
Fabinho
Confusion reigns over whether the Brazilian is a right-back or a midfielder amid links with a move to Old Trafford but there was no uncertainty over where he was best last season as he drove Monaco to the Ligue 1 title and the last four of the Champions League as Leonardo Jardim’s tactically astute midfield general.
How he’s different to Matic
The 23-year-old can play a similar role to the Serbian as well as drop back and cover for a more aggressive or explosive partner, as he has done for Tiemoue Bakayoko in the middle of Monaco’s two-man midfield partnership. At Chelsea, Matic has usually required his partner to take on that task for him, be it Fabregas or Kante.
Key stat: Fabinho attempted and completed more passes than any other Monaco player in Ligue 1 last season and won the most tackles (80) and completed the most through balls (six).
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic
An attacking midfielder unlike the majority of the other players in this list but an interesting option with a rather unusual set of attributes, the six-foot-three Serbian playmaker could be replace Marouane Fellaini as the awkward and imposing third midfielder in the middle for United.
How he’s different to Matic
Milikovic-Savic is more creative than his compatriot yet also strong in the air for obvious reasons. Rather than replacing Carrick at he back, or offering something different next to Pogba, he would be a more radical solution, playing ahead of United’s midfield two but working hard to link-up with the players behind him and putting in the effort to win the ball high up in the final third and defend from the front.
Key stat: Milikovic-Savic won more duels than any other midfielder in Serie A last season (300).
Steven N’Zonzi
Formerly a Premier League player for Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City, the English top flight didn’t realise what they were losing when the Frenchman left for Sevilla in 2015. In La Liga, he has blossomed to show his skill as a solid, ball-playing midfielder, dominating games and driving his team forward.
How he’s different to Matic
A stronger and better-built option in comparison to the rangy Serbian, N’Zonzi is happy soaking up possession from deep or getting forward to charge down opponents and put his side on the front-foot.
Key stat: N’Zoni attempted and completed more passes than any other player in La Liga last season (2738 and 2456, respectively) and won 72.59% of his aerial duels.
Maxime Gonalons
A player who may not boast the profile of other big names on this list but a midfielder who is well-used to providing the ballast for a side filled with flighty attacking players that might otherwise struggle for balance, the Lyon captain could be a clever capture to keep things under control alongside Herrera and Pogba.
How he’s different to Matic
The Frenchman likes to play deep and allow others to get forward, finding runners with his long passes and snuffing out danger by intercepting loose balls or confronting opponents who get through his own team’s lines, his greatest similarity to Matic is his strength in the air. In most other areas of his game, he should be considered a more defensively-minded player.
Key stat: Gonalons won more tackles than any Lyon player in Ligue 1 last season with 86 and also completed 86% of his take ons (43 out of 50).
Leon Goretzka
Hard-working, all-action Leon Goretzka may well move to Bayern Munich this summer as the Bavarians step up their recruitment drive to bring the best of the Bundesliga to the Allianz Arena in order to create a new all-German core to their side. If there is any chance of hi-jacking the deal, United should consider it. The 22-year-old has it all.
How he’s different to Matic
A youngster in need of games but not an established star who would demand other players are cut from the team to make way for him, Goretzka is capable of playing as a defensive midfielder, box-to-box and even slightly higher up the pitch if needed. He is more like Herrera than Matic yet could slot into a variety of roles.
Key stat: Goretzka scored five goals in the Bundesliga last season while predominantly playing in a deep-lying role and was ranked seventh for duels by midfielders in Germany with 177 won.
Alternatively… sign two midfielders
Even if Matic would double up on Herrera’s role at United, that might not be such a bad thing. For the all the riches that have been spent on the squad at Old Trafford, the team does lack something when the Spaniard is out injured or unavailable, while Carrick turns 36 in July 2017 and will soon need replacing for good.
It would cost a pretty penny to pull off but it may make sense for a double deal to bring in a player capable of stepping into the role of providing the legs, energy and tenacity required to unlock Pogba’s potential, and another to control games from deep, taking over a niche only currently filled by an aged veteran who cannot play every game.
Maybe United need Matic, plus one?
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