Breaking News

Goal.com expert releases who should be an ideal signing for United

PERFECT POGBA FOIL? WHY FABREGAS
WOULD BE IDEAL SIGNING FOR MAN UTD
The midfielder has struggled to find a spot under
Antonio Conte at Chelsea but his passing game
could be just what is missing alongside Paul
Pogba

For Manchester United, the arrival of the international
break means a momentary lapse in the great Paul
Pogba debate. Since the return of the French midfielder,
everyone connected with the club seems to have had
their say on how best the world-record signing can be
utilised.

United's form has been in no way convincing since
Pogba made his £89.5 million move from Juventus, with
Jose Mourinho so far having struggled to find the best
role in which to deploy his expensive new toy. The
Portuguese has regularly used Pogba as one half of a
double-pivot alongside Marouane Fellaini or Ander
Herrera, while experiments employing the star man as a
No.10 and then as the left-sided player in a three-man
midfield including Wayne Rooney were both short-lived.
While Michael Carrick has so far been massively
underused since the former Chelsea manager arrived,
perhaps there could be an answer in the shape of a one-
time Mourinho charge now struggling to make his voice
heard at Stamford Bridge under Antonio Conte.
Cesc Fabregas was a member of the ex-Inter and Real
Madrid boss's Chelsea side who won the 2014-15
Premier League title and his ability on the ball is one
thing with which United could really do on a consistent
basis just behind Pogba in their current 4-2-3-1 setup.

In their last two league matches – a 4-1 win against
Leicester City and a dominant display in the draw with
Stoke City – United have allowed Pogba to push up to a
higher starting position by beginning with Herrera as his
midfield partner. However, Fabregas could provide a
higher level of quality distribution from the base of the
engine room, with his superior passing range potentially
giving the Frenchman an added edge to his marauding
running game.

Such a move has been a long time in the pipeline, with
David Moyes having become convinced in the summer
of 2013 that Fabregas would be joining his revolution at
Old Trafford. He would later claim that Ed Woodward's
succession of David Gill at United’s transfer point-man
led to the pursuit failing.

"We thought we were taking him to Manchester United.
We spoke to him at the time but, unfortunately, it didn't
happen," he said earlier this year.
"There was a new chief executive in place. David Gill had
left, which was a really big thing for Manchester United.
He was someone who was very important to the club
and to how things ticked along at the club. In that
position you need to understand football, like David Gill."

But Woodward now has Mourinho firmly in position as
manager and, with the Portuguese having already been
linked with a move for Fabregas last summer, there is
always a chance that United could make a serious move
once more in the future.
Having won league titles with both Barcelona and
Chelsea, it is clear that the former Arsenal man can play
a big role in successful teams. And at United there are
still questions to be answered in exactly the kind of
position in which Fabregas thrives.

No comments