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Manchester United may have to brace themselves for the retirement of another stalwart just a year after saying goodbye to legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson. That stalwarts name is Rio Ferdinand. The center back has been an excellent servant to Manchester United for almost a decade, winning everything there is to win with them but now the time is right for the player to hang up his boots.
The 35-year-old has noticeably dipped in form since last season and has been used just 7 times by new manager David Moyes in the Premier League. The worlds most expensive and once the worlds best will most likely step down to make way for younger talent next season and here are 5 players who could replace him:
5. Michael Keane
Keane is a talented young defender on Manchester United’s books
The young center back is on the books of Manchester United along with his brother Will and is one of the most talented players produced by Manchester United in recent times. The 21-year-old has been with the Red Devils since 2009, representing them at various levels before making his first team debut against Newcastle on September 26th 2012.
The youngster gave an excellent performance in the match earning praise from teammate Darren Fletcher who called him “fantastic”. Keane has an excellent build combined with great tackling abilities which makes him an ideal replacement for Ferdinand.
The England international also has a knack for scoring goals, finding the back of the net 5 times in 27 appearances for the Reserve team and scoring 8 goals in 3 appearances for the England Under-21s. Manchester United need not look far for a talented defender. They have one right in front of their noses.
4. Benedikt Howedes
Hoewedes in one of the best defenders in the Bundesliga
Hoewedes is currently one of Europe’s most under-rated defenders at the moment and will be a perfect fit at Manchester United. The 25-year-old has been with Schalke 04 for over a decade, picking up the Fritz Walter Medal for being the best player of the Under-19 team back in 2007.
The German international was an integral part of his country’s Under-21 team amassing a total of 23 caps and helping them win the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in 2009. Howedes has amassed a total of 18 caps for the national team and was a part of their Euro 2012 squad.
The defender is more of a traditional center back who prefers to stick in his area rather than venture out which is perfect for the Red Devils as they have been leaking a lot of goals this season. Howedes is also a capable goal scorer, finding the back of the net at least twice every season which is something Rio Ferdinand rarely did.
The German center back could be acquired by United without burning a hole in their pocket and is capable of providing competition to Arsenal‘s Per Mertesacker.
3. Eliaquim Mangala
Mangala has gained the attention of all of Europe’s elite
The Frenchman is one of the best young defenders in the world right now and has caught the attention of some of Europe’s biggest clubs. The 22-year-old is extremely athletic which is a big advantage as he uses his speed and strength to dispossess his opponents.
The youngster has been compared to his countryman and national team defense partner Mamadou Sakho but in my opinion Mangala is the better of the two players. The Porto defender can be relied upon in important matches, a fact that was seen in the match against rivals Benfica in his first season where he scored the equalizing goal in a 2-2 draw.
The France international has hit 4 goals in 23 appearances for Porto this season which is brilliant for a center back. Manchester United can have a great asset in Mangala if they manage to acquire his services.
Porto players have a history of being expensive and the club have continued their tradition by slapping a £40 million price tag on the center back but the Red Devils should be able to tempt him to join their ranks quite easily as Mangala would certainly want to test his skills in the Premier League.
2. Ezequiel Garay
Garay has been heavily linked to Manchester United
The Argentine defender almost joined Manchester United in the summer, but the move was cancelled by David Moyes. The Scot must be regretting his decision now as he was spotted scouting Benfica’s game versus Porto recently.
Garay is one of the best defenders in the world and is currently having the season of his life at Benfica where he has a pass accuracy of 85% in the Champions League. The 26-year-old is excellent with his positioning and tackling making him just the player the Red Devils need if the want to stop conceding goals.
Napoli are also interested in acquiring Garay’s services making it tough for United to capture the defender. The defender is used to playing at the highest level after spending some time at Real Madrid so the pressure of playing for a big club should be easy for him to handle. Garay’s worth is sure to go up after the World Cup so Manchester United must secure his services as soon as possible.
1. Mats Hummels
Hummels is one of the best defenders on the planet
Manchester United and David Moyes will pull off a coup if they manage to capture Hummels. The 25-year-old has been brilliant for Borussia Dortmund since he joined their ranks from Bayern Munich in 2009 and has established himself as one of the best defenders in the world.
The German international played in all of the matches in Germany’s Euro 2012 campaign, where he was one of the best players of the tournament. Hummels has immense strength along with having a knack for making goal saving interceptions which would make him ideal for the Red Devils.
The defender’s price will certainly sky rocket after the World Cup so United must get him before that or risk paying a kings ransom which would frankly be worth it for such a player.
Hummels has a technique which is similar to the legendary German defender Franz Beckenbauer, who was one of best players to ever put on a Germany shirt. Ferdinand will leave big boots to fill at Manchester United and Hummels will surely hit the ground running in England. I won’t be surprised if Moyes breaks the transfer record for a defender, much like Sir Alex did for Rio Ferdinand, to secure Hummels’s services.
