Why Manchester United Should Be Looking To Sign Midfielder With 87% Pass Accuracy

This season has been one of change so far. There has been no Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsenal are top of the league and Jose Mourinho is at the helm at Chelsea. Heck, Liverpool are even up near the top of the Premier League. But there has been one thing still lingering from the summer, and it’s starting to grate on me – Manchester United’s midfield ‘problem’.

For what it’s worth, I don’t feel United have a particular problem in their midriff. Yes, Anderson and Tom Cleverley make up part of that unit, but that isn’t enough to start suggesting their is a problem. Look at Shinji Kagawa – possibly one of the most creative talents in European football yet he’s hardly getting a sniff.

I do, however, feel that there is one man who would fit into the United midfield beautifully, and that’s Everton’s Ross Barkley.

The 19-year-old has been brilliant so far this term and showed exactly why people were getting so  excited about him a few years ago.

He has the power of Marouane Fellaini, the energy levels of Cleverley and a technical ability not too far off Michael Carrick’s. He can sit deep and pick opposition attacks apart and he can just as easily burst forward and link up with the forwards. This season he has won 8/11 of his tackles, 30/46 of his take ons and completed 87% of his passes – the same as Carrick.

He has also created nine opportunities and scored twice, showing what a threat he can be going forward.

The fact that he’s English and is still a teenager is only a bonus in my eyes, but what he possessing in raw talent is why I think United should be trying to snap him up.