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| Scholes after 3-1 defeat to Barcelona |
Hello all, apologies for my lack of posts recently (this is becoming an all too familiar scenario) but my laptop has been getting fixed and I have been working at FourFourTwo all week.
Right, back into the thick of things. Paul Scholes has retired. Were any of you surprised? It was inevitably going to happen but when the news reached me on my way to work on Tuesday morning, I couldn't help but feel a great sadness pass right over me like when one loses a family member or loveable pet. This was Paul Scholes. A player who won over 15 major honours for Manchester United and made over 650 appearances for the Red Devils.
It was a sad, sad day for football after one of the greatest midfielders of our generation called it a day. United are going to struggle to fine an adequate replacement for Scholes and the hunt is already on. The Beautiful Game Weekly will now rustle up and analyse five players that have been linked with United and ones that could do the job for the former England midfielder.
Luka Modric
The diminutive Croatian schemer was in fine form for Tottenham Hotspur last season and his award for the club's player of the season was completely justified. If the nominations for the PFA Player of the year award were made in May, Modric's name would have been one of the first on the sheet. Having outperformed team mates Gareth Bale and Rafael Van der Vaart, both nominated with the former picking up the yearly gong, United and Chelsea have both been linked with big money moves for him.
However, manager Harry Redknapp has stressed on numerous occasions that Modric isn't for sale. That hasn't stopped the rumour mill spinning at a frantic rate and the little Croatian would be a perfect fit for the United style of play. These rumours won't stop especially after Modric declared last week that he wants Champions League football. But then again, who doesn't?
The player himself was keen to stress that he is happy at White Hart Lane but said, should a deal be reached between two clubs racing for his signature, then he would begin to think about his future. One major hindrance for United however remains Daniel Levy. During his tenure as chairman, Levy has overseen the sales of both Michael Carrick and Dimitar Berbatov to the Red Devils and, after the way the concocted their business in both transfers, made it abruptly clear that he would never deal with Manchester United in the transfer market again. Then again, stranger things have happened in football.
Value in the papers - £20m-£25m
Actual value - £40m+
James Milner
A controversial one with Milner I have to admit but with his Manchester City career failing to reach the heights that were expected of him, City may be willing to move on. His failure to achieve the success of his Aston Villa season pre-World Cup has seen his place in the starting XI scuppered by the form of natural wingers Adam Johnson and David Silva.
Managers have got to understand one thing about Milner; he is best in the centre, playing from box-to-box, not out wide. His best season for Villa, the aforementioned pre-World Cup one, was when he was played in the centre of midfield. His inability on the wing was clearly highlighted in England's 2-2 draw with Switzerland and Fergie could do a lot worse than Milner in his side especially with rivals City reportedly interested in Serie A's Alexis Sanchez and Marek Hamsik.
A formidable strike and not showing any great fear to get stuck in, the former Villa and Newcastle midfielder would be suited to Ferguson's all action midfield especially if he were given the freedom to roam behind the front-line. City may well be willing to cut their losses on the England man and cash in while the market for English players remains high.
Value in the papers - £18m
Actual value - £10m-£12m
Wesley Sneijder
Papers have been rife with rumours regarding Sneijder and a potential move to United for months now. Like the link with Modric, it is hardly surprising. The Dutchman possesses all the similar qualities to Scholes whether it is playing the inch perfect pass, making late surging runs into the box or long range shooting.
When asked whether he would move to United, Sneijder admitted it would be hard to turn down the current Premier league champions but reaffirmed his commitment to Inter Milan. With the relevant experience at the top level on the international stage and at club level with Ajax, Real Madrid and Inter, Sneijder fits Ferguson's requirements in hunting down an established, game changing midfielder.
His ability with both feet and as a dead-ball specialist, a spot United have failed to fill since Cristiano Ronaldo left for Real Madrid, the Dutch midfielder will be high on Ferguson's wish list this summer and if the club are willing to spend the money, they should go all out to bring him to Old Trafford.
Value in the papers - £35m-£40m
Actual value - As above
Charlie Adam
An outside bet but still one that could do a job for United. Adam was the sole reason Blackpool performed as admirably as they did last season and despite suffering relegation at the hands of United, Ferguson will be well aware of his abilities with the Scot scoring a delightful free-kick against the Red Devils on Survival Sunday.
With the ability to support the front-line, track back and support the midfield with the nitty-gritty tasks and break forward to score important goals, Ferguson may well see his compatriot as an astute piece of business especially with Adam admitting his future lies away from Bloomfield Road.
Blackpool won't be willing to allow him to leave on the cheap however and did well to hold onto him over January despite high money bids from Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. However, with Adam now craving Premiership football, Ian Holloway will find it difficult to hold onto his star man.
Value in the papers - £15m
Actual Value - £12m
Scott Parker
The FWA Player of the Year was outstanding for West Ham United last season and was the only player to come away with any credit from a dire season for the Hammers. Many predicted they would have been relegated by Christmas had their captain not consistently dragged them through the mud on too many separate occasions.
Showing the passion and fight that Ferguson craves in a player, Parker would fit in well into the United midfield and, despite being continuously dubbed a defensive midfielder, has the ability to break forward when the opportunity presents itself.
Like Blackpool's Adam, Parker sees his future in England's top tier of football and even the club directors expect him to leave this summer to help ease the debt on the club. Parker deserves his move to a big club after proving his worth for both Newcastle United and West Ham after not being given the chance to showcase his capabilities as a midfielder with Chelsea.
Value in the papers - £15m
Actual value - £10m-£15m
Anyway, I got to dash to watch X-men First Class.
Laters,
Macca
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