With David Moyes finally being revealed as the next Manchester United manager on a six year deal, we take a look at whether or not his first signing should be the fuzzy-haired Belgian that his has mentored for the last five years at Goodison Park, Marouane Fellaini.
1) Presence
Fellaini towers at 6ft5 and has the strength of a cart horse. Just standing in the middle of the pitch you can feel his occupancy oozing into the crowds. He is a truly domineering figure in the middle of the park, which is something Manchester United are missing greatly. They are short of a midfielder who can battle in the air, on the floor but also burst forward at every opportunity.
Fellaini has won 54%of his attempted duels this season, including 59% of his headed duels and a huge 72% of his 78 tackles.
2) Goals
Another vital ingredient United are missing in the middle of the park is goals. Although the frontline are scoring without though at present, their highest scoring midfielder is on five goals. Fellaini was in scorching form earlier in the season but his goals have dried up lately, but his tally still stands at 11 goals in 29.
Five of these have been headers, five have been with his right foot and the other with his left.
3) Creativity
Fellaini isn’t your normal type of playmaker. He is not in the mould as Manchester City’s David Silva or Chelsea’s Juan Mata, but he is flooded in natural creativity and can spark attacks with a single pass. Paul Scholes pulls the strings in the United midfield with players such as Tom Cleverley running off him, but with Fellaini joining the mix it instantly seems a more threatening one.
The Belgian has made 35 chances this season – 30 key passes and five assists.