As it looks highly unlikely that Manuel Ugarte will be joining MUFC thanks to PSG being absolute knobs, here are a few alternatives to the Uruguayan.
1. Martin Zubimendi
A typical Spanish midfielder who is as cliche as it comes when one thinks about a Spanish midfielder.
The Real Sociedad player is very good technically, very good on the ball, very calm in possession, has good awareness of his surroundings, and isn't too bad at winning the ball back both on the ground and aerially.
Zubimendi is also a hard worker and has an eye for that defence-splitting pass into the final third. Due to his calmness and ability in possession, the 25-year-old feels no pressure as he easily gets himself out of tight situations. He then has the ability to play a pass that gets his team into dangerous areas in the final third.
What Zubimendi also does is allows his other midfielders more freedom to move forward as he remains as that anchor. Every now and then, the recent Euros winner with Spain can make those passes through the lines to create opportunities up front.
While he is not known for his goal scoring, this past season did see an increase in goals for the midfielder as Zubimendi netted 4 times while getting 1 assist. The season before (22/23), it was the converse of that: 1 goal and 4 assists.
Despite the increase in goals, that is a deficiency in the Spaniard's game. Compare him to the man he could replace at United and Casemiro has 5 goals and 3 assists this past season.
The Real Sociedad midfielder is defensively sound as well even if he isn't that old school, destroyer of a CDM.
At least with Zubimendi, thanks to his reluctance to tackle, we won't have that problem of il-discipline compared to Casemiro as the Brazilian did pick up 9 yellow cards and 1 red last season whereas his Spanish counterpart had just the 5 yellows.
His strengths were on full display in the Euros particularly the final against England. Although, and I don't mean to discredit Zubimendi, most decent players will look good against England.
He is good enough to start as CDM for most top teams and the Spanish national team however, when you have someone like Rodri in your side, ain't no chance you gonna play holding midfielder ahead of him.
2. Sofyan Amrabat
This is a man we're all quite accustomed to having seen him play for United over the past season.
Sofyan Amrabat was on loan at United for the 23/24 campaign and was utulized in a number of positions. His debut saw him start at left-back in which he did such a good job, I thought 'sell Shaw then and there.'
Ok, that maybe an overexaggeration but you know what I mean.
This is one of the positives of Amrabat in that he can play a number of positions although his strength lies in that CDM role hence the potential for MUFC to re-sign the Moroccan.
When watching the midfielder last season, one cannot help but admire his work rate as it is one aspect of his game that is unquestioned. Amrabat will give absolutely everything regardless of where he plays.
He is also closer to that traditional holding midfielder compared to that of Zubimendi as Amrabat is much more physical and robust, he enjoys a tackle and can make some really important blocks.
Interceptions and regaining of the ball is another area of strength of his. However, in the air, he is a bit weak as he only won 0.5 of his aerial duesl per 90 last campaign.
All these attributes of his game would suggest a player who is not that great on the ball. That is untrue as Amrabat does like to progress the ball and hits around 60 passes per game with a success rate of 86.8%.
Going forward though, there is nothing to show, literally. Amrabat failed to register a goal or assist all last season even if his game time was limited.
Much like Casemiro, he too has a problem with discipline. In his 30 games for United, Amrabat picked up 9 yellow cards which meant he picked up a yellow card in 30% of his matches.
But towards the end of last season, we did see the best of the Moroccan international. In the games against Arsenal, Newcastle and Man City in the FA Cup final, he was arguably our man of the match in all three.
His work in the midfield was key to winning two of those three games and in that final victory, was pivatol in stopping Rodri in City's midfield preventing them from playing their usual game.
Without him performing like that, I doubt United would've won that final.
Amrabat is a player that I like and feel that he wasn't given as many opportunities in the first team as he deserved but I've always thought of him as a backup/squad player rather than a starter. We know how important that CDM role is in any team and I'm not sure whether Amrabat is good enough to be a regular starter in that position for Erik ten Hag.
3. Sander Berge
I'm not quite sure where the Norwegian Scott McTominay popped up from but here he is. Sander Berge has emmerged as a potential option to come into United's midfield as an alternative to Manuel Ugarte.
Ngl, I don't much about this player other than the fact that he's Norwegian and plays for Burnley.
Standing at nigh on 2m (1.95m) tall, one shouldn't be surprised to hear that Berge is quite good in the air. He wins 1.92 of his aerial duels per 90 over the past year which is head and shoulders better than Zubimendi and Amrabat.
His strength lies in his well, strength as Berge is a big, physical guy. He is also pretty good at decision-making and winning the ball back. The Norwegian is quite a powerful runner too.
The 26-year-old also has the ability to adapt to different circumstances and play styles.
I know one shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, but a Burnley midfielder to come in and be United's potential new number 6? I mean no disrespect to him or Burnley and if he does happen to come to MUFC I will back him but I thought we were serious about winning the big trophies. I doubt that players of this quality will help get us there.
I do trust INEOS and the new football structure at United but Sander Berge really isn't a player that I believe will revolutionize ten Hag's midfield or make the Man City's and the Liverpool's shake in their boots.
We should be doing better.
Here's a table comparing the three as well as Manuel Ugarte:
Stats per 90 via FBREF.
Final Thoughts
I felt that for what we currently need in our midfield, Manuel Ugarte (or any midfielder like him) was the guy. That robust, physical, tenacious, ball winner, was precisely what we needed for our midfield.
Basically Casemiro of his first season at United.
I don't necessarily think that a possession-based, ball player like Martin Zubimendi is crucial nor is someone like Sander Berge who is a little too similar to Scott McTominay for my liking.
I mean, if he is the midfielder we're going to get, then we might as well keep McTominay. At least the Scotsman grabs a couple of good and important goals from time to time.
I can't believe I just said to keep Scott McTominay.
YOU SEE WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO ME INEOS?!
On Sofyan Amrabat, we have a pretty good idea of what this guy is all about and he is closer to that traditional CDM than any of the others. However, with the Moroccan, I feel as though he is a backup option at best. A good squad/rotational player who we can call upon at certain times, not someone who is a regular starter.
So out of these three and any other alternative, I would go for Martin Zubimendi. I know, I know, I said I don't think a midfielder of that type is what we need but out of all the alternatives, Zubimendi is the best of the lot.
While he may not be defensively solid, he is still relatively decent and he is superb on the ball. He definitely ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to ten Hag ball which is another (major) reason to go for him out of the rest.
Indeed, this deal will be difficult because he has interest from other clubs like Liverpool (not like that stopped us this window with Leny Yoro) and his release clause of £50m, the same amount the club are unwilling to pay for for Ugarte.
But if we could somehow strike a deal with Real Sociedad, I would be quite happy with Martin Zubimendi.
Who would be your choice of player/s to add to United's midfield? Or are you content with the likes of Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Scott McTominay?
Background Image: Casemiro and Erik ten Hag | Image credit: Getty Images via Goal