Rumors that Manchester United could be making a double move for Roma’s Kevin Strootman and Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller is bringing the kind of joy that has been otherwise absent in Old Trafford so far this season. Whether or not the duo arrive at Old Trafford, the indication that big-name players are still interested in playing for a club without Champions League football next season is something that will please most United fans.
In the off chance that the duo do come to Manchester, let us look at how that leaves a side that has, at several times this season, lacked any kind of creativity in midfield. First let us take a look at the case of Kevin Strootman. The fact that United have not had an explosive box-to-box midfielder since the days of Roy Keane is something that has been hashed and rehashed several times over the past few years.
Should the 24-year-old Dutchman move to Old Trafford, then there will be little use in rehashing that bit ever again. For Strootman is exactly the kind of tenacious tackling, precise passing and goal-hungry central midfielder United haven’t had for a long time now. Although he just moved to Roma, his performances this season are one of the main reasons why the Italian club are where they are in the League.
Strootman has added that extra level of bite to the midfield. His industry coupled with his intelligence make him a rare breed of midfielder, one that is able to tackle, pass and shoot in equal measure. One thing that separates the Dutchman from the rest is his concentration levels and his ability to maintain defensive discipline. So far this season, the absence of a well-settled central midfield has meant that United have been exposed at the back far too often. And that is certainly something that is unlikely to happen if the Dutchman is to swap Roma for Manchester.
It is not just the defensive side of the game that makes him so good. It is the fact that his high energy levels means that he is more than capable of going forward, late in the game, in search of the elusive goal. His finishing ability is beyond question and that makes him an all-round threat from the center of midfield that United could very well do with as they seek to return back to where they rightfully belong, next season.
Whilst Strootman is a far more obvious choice for United, the importance of bringing Thomas Muller to Old Trafford cannot be understated. So far this season, the 24-year-old German attacking midfielder has been lost at the galaxy of stars at Bayern. Although he has started 24 League and eight Champions League games, he has only completed the full 90 minutes in 18 of those and that has led to a growing discontent in the players’ camp.
Whilst Muller’s goal scoring record is there for all to see, that isn’t what makes him one of the best in the world. Rather, Muller’s understated ability to find pockets of space on the pitch that not many can see is what makes him a valuable commodity in the current climate. At various points this season, United have lacked the cutting edge to carve out clear-cut chances for themselves. Muller’s versatility, coupled with his ability to find space, where seemingly none exists, make him an asset that United would love to have.
If those rumors turn out to be true, United will certainly have in their ranks, two world-class midfielders who have what it takes, to take the club towards greater heights. Something that might be impossible with the current set of midfielders.