Manchester United have been targeting several central midfielders this offseason. And with the transfer market opening up in a few more days, The Red Devils will have a golden chance to improve the depth of the squad.
Players such as Arturo Vidal, Radja Nainggolan, Fabinho, and Nemanja Matic are potential transfer targets for this summer. And while there is no question they would make United much better, those arrivals could create a logjam in midfield. Mourinho already has Ander Herera, Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini, and Paul Pogba for the CM role.
Considering Matic and Fabinho are details away from signing with the club, we must ask. What if United decides to sell one of their central midfielders? The answer is quite simple, and the one who would have to go is Marouane Fellaini.
Carrick only has one more year left in his current deal, and he does not have much of a future with the club anymore. Pogba is the team’s biggest star, and he is not going anywhere. Same with Ander, who earned the team’s Player Of The Year Award this past season. Fellaini would become the odd man out, and United should capitalise on that. Several teams might be willing to pay for his services, as he wouldn’t require an enoumous bid to leave Old Trafford.
First of all, his game is tailor-made for smaller teams in the Premier League. Fellaini’s best years came when he was with Everton, and there is no doubt he would welcome a return to Goodison Park with open arms. Sides such as Leicester City, Swansea City or Stoke City could also use him in midfield. He would immediately have a more important role than the one he currently has at United.
Fellaini has been a good addition through United’s rebuilding period. But if the team wants to mount a serious title challenge in the near future, then Fellaini shouldn’t be an important part of the squad. United needs something extra, and Fellaini just wouldn’t make the cut.
Mourinho knows this, and it is perhaps the reason why he has been so aggressive pursuing upgrades in midfield. He already let Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger leave over the past few months. And Fellaini should follow the same route as well, as long as United can find one or two upgrades.
It would be a pity to watch him leave, because at times he has became a fan favourite. But the club needs to do what is best for their future. And if that means selling a fan favourite, then so be it. Adding quality reinforcements is the only way the team can go back to the place they were less than 10 years ago.