Why Luka Modric is a must-buy for Manchester United this summer

The 2010/2011 season has finished, Manchester United have bounced back from a largely sub-par 2009/2010 season. 19^th English top flight domestic league title, returning to the UEFA Champions League final again, also a domestic cup semi final. However these accomplishments have not appeased all United fans that have been yearning for the last few years for new blood to take the team to the next level. Despite making it to the final against Barcelona, the game exposed a few players on the grandest stage and regardless of Barcelona being brilliant, a few home truths about United players measuring up to the world’s best hit home to fans are media alike. Ryan Giggs has been brilliant in centre midfield for Manchester United this season but he was horribly overrun by the Barca midfield. A big reason was not that the Barca midfield was physically stronger than Giggs but because they are constantly on the move, playing short, one-touch passes means that you have to do a lot of chasing, to get near Xavi, Iniesta or Busquets. Giggs is most effective when he is on the ball, not just passing but dribbling and marauding through midfields using his strengths he used as a winger in the prime of his career. If we look at the quality of the United central midfielders, it is evident that that group could benefit from maybe one world-class operator amongst the ranks. Michael Carrick has refined his role within the team somewhat to a more defensive minded midfielder that can dictate and keep things ticking over from a deeper role on the pitch. Anderson keeps showing signs of progressing into a talented, box to box midfielder but with each positive step, seems to take a step back. Darren Fletcher has suffered with illness but should be back in the reckoning come August when the new season starts.

With Paul Scholes also retiring and the imminent release of Owen Hargreaves, potentially Sir Alex Ferguson will go out and make a big money signing in central midfield. With the emergence of Javier Hernandez and Wayne Rooney partnership up front means the central midfielder has to be acclimatised to that role in a 4-4-2 unless United change back to 4-3-3 or the 4-2-3-1 operated in last few years. For me, this should eliminate Wesley Sneijder and he plays a free role and flourished in a 4-2-3-1 under Mourinho. Whether he could produce in a 4-4-2 remains to be seen. Modric plays in a 4-4-2 at Tottenham, has a fantastic passing range, glides across a football pitch with grace that portrays minimal ease. can dribble with pace and can actually tackle and is disciplined in keeping position to keep an organised team shape. To quote one scout on his twitter, “Luka Modric is the only player that would add class to this present Barcelona team.” He can also play the withdrawn role off the strikers if United play a more defensive minded formation away from home in bigger games.

To summarise, he would command decent money but if United want to make the leap to challenge the likes of Barca on a consistent basis then they need to start bringing in the likes of Luka Modric.