Vidal’s inclusion in Manchester United would be ideal and would totally make them one of the best teams in the league, easily capable of contending for the title. But, since there is a good probability of Vidal not joining the Red Devils, we can surely think of the players who can make good replacements for him.
Here are three players whom Man Utd can look to bring in if they fail to land Vidal.
1. Granit Xhaka
Apparently not a very sound name as far as the rumour mills are considered, but the 21 year old central midfielder from Switzerland has emerged as one of the top performers for both club Borussia Monchengladbach and the national team. A versatile central midfielder, he has strong vision and great passing skills as well as good defensive and offensive work-rate. He has a powerful left-foot which he can use for shooting and can contribute goals if instructed to attack. At age 21, Xhaka has a lot of potential to become world class and van Gaal can work well with him.
2. João Moutinho
The Portuguese star is one of the key players for Monaco as well as Portugal. He has a very strong engine, box to box workrate and exceptional vision and passing skills. Along with Herrera, he can form a formidable pair at the heart of the midfield. At age 27, he is in his prime and ready to contribute to success. His availability is suspect as he is very important for the club but he definitely has the quality to start playing at Old Trafford, thanks to his 150 plus league appearances and over 70 caps for Portugal.
3. Blaise Matuidi
The French International has risen to be one of PSG’s most important players. He is a midfield engine and contributes immensely to both attack and defense. There is no area on the pitch that he doesn’t cover. He’s very similar to Chelsea’s Ramires, but has shown more consistency than the Brazlian. Matuidi can play next to Herrera and provide him defensive cover as well as a runner when the Spaniard needs an option for a pass. Matuidi would also fit in perfectly in the system, as Mata may not be defensively active. He can Manchester United’s deep lying playmaker, who can dictate the game and has certainly got that ability and experience in him.
Final Verdict:
The three midfielders mentioned in the article are top players yet aren’t of the level Vidal is playing at. Yet, they easily serve the purpose Man Utd want and would add quality to the roster. The Red Devils can think about these players as well if they cannot land the Chilean maestro as none of the above listed players are chased by other clubs, which would make the job a tad easier for Woodward.