5 reasons why Matic is the best signing of the summer so far

This summer transfer window has already seen clubs spending more and more money, especially in the Premier League. Every top club has broken different transfer records while Paris Saint-Germain took it a step further with the signing of Neymar.

Some players are bought to solve problem positions, some are bought to improve upon existing quality and then there are players who single-handedly make the entire team better. Such signings are difficult to pull off and when a team does pull it off, then they step up another level.

Out of the various signings in the summer, Manchester United signing Nemanja Matic from Chelsea is a game-changer on many levels, not only in England but also in Europe. United's performances in the first two games are a testament to that fact.

The Red Devils signing Matic is a match made in heaven, implying the Serbian makes a strong case for being the signing of the summer. Now, here are 5 reasons which prove that he is indeed so.

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#1 Fills a major void

Nemanja Matic fills in the holding midfield position at United.

First and foremost, the key requirement for a new player is to fit in well with the system, if not improve it. Nemanja Matic fits in perfectly in the United setup.

United gaffer Jose Mourinho currently has box-to-box midfielder Ander Herrera and 36-year old veteran Michael Carrick to fill in the deeper midfield role. However, due to style of play or age, neither of them is truly the right choice for competing on four fronts.

Matic exactly and expertly fills that holding midfield role. The former Chelsea midfielder is primarily a defensive-minded player who shields the defence. In this way, the attack up front can function more fluidly without the extra worry of getting caught on the counter.

If the early games are any indication, Matic has really settled in well and the team has scored four goals without reply for the first time under Jose Mourinho. Thus, the transfer deal already looks to be a winner.

#2 Already a winner

Matic has already won the Premier League twice in 2015 and 2017.

A major factor for winning trophies is prior experience. Be it the manager or key players, having tasted success before is a big help for the team in terms of handling situations. Thus, Matic adds that winning mentality to the squad.

The 29-year old has won two Premier League titles in 2015 and 2017 with Chelsea, which is later than any of the players at United last won it. Further, only goalkeeper David De Gea and right-back Antonio Valencia are the first-teamers among the ones who were there when United last won the title in 2013.

On the other hand, Matic played a key role in both the title wins at Chelsea and his transfer is already looking similar to N'Golo Kante last year. The Frenchman won the league with Leicester City in 2016 before joining Chelsea. The defensive midfielder then helped Chelsea win the title and picked up the PFA Players' Player of the Year award as well.

Thus, the knowledge of winning it before is important and in many ways Matic's transfer could be the final piece of the puzzle for Mourinho.

#3 Unleashes Pogba

Matic's signing unleashes Paul Pogba.

In the previous season, Paul Pogba did well in his role, but not enough to justify his £89 million price-tag. Another reason for his low-key season was the need to be tactically disciplined so that the team is not caught out high up the pitch. Matic's arrival resolves that issue.

The Serb is ever-present in the deeper midfield and possesses top game awareness. Thus, Pogba can play his natural game to dominate the opposition and constantly focus on breaching opposition defences.

Further, the 24-year old is no longer the world's most expensive footballer and he is playing with more freedom as a result of it.

Every team's best player needs a foil to unlock their full potential just as one can see in the case of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at their respective clubs. In Pogba, United have a potential Ballon d'Or winner and Matic is the man to unleash him.

Thus, Pogba can now dictate games higher up the pitch while Matic holds fort from behind. This is a potential title-winning combination and this further emphasises why Matic is the best signing so far.

#4 He's a Mourinho-type player

Nemanja Matic is a perfect Jose-Mourinho player.

Every manager has a type of player whom they love to have in their team. Pep Guardiola loves to have a technically-sound versatile player in his ranks while Jurgen Klopp loves a fluid attacking player. Similarly, Mourinho is known to prefer players whose defensive work-rate is good as a first measure.

In that regard, Matic is an archetypal Mourinho player. The 29-year old is excellent at reading the game and breaking up opposition play. No wonder, it was Mourinho who brought him back to Chelsea from Benfica in 2014 and won the league immediately. Thus, the Portuguese think-tank naturally went for Matic when a similar need arose at Old Trafford.

Now, what makes Matic different from other defensive midfielders is his technical ability. The former Benfica player can spray passes, score occasional thunderbolts and even embark on a dribble every once in a while. The vital trait among all these is his intelligence to pick his forward forays.

Thus, a player who fills a problem position, possesses a skill-set that endears him to the manager and has the winning mentality can only be considered to be a top signing.

United's attacking quality will only make Matic's job easier yet crucial and his performances will be crucial for Jose Mourinho to conquer Europe.

#5 Weakens rivals

Chelsea are yet to adequately replace Matic.

As much as it is important to focus on the team than the opposition, there is no doubt that buying a player wanted by a rival is a double blow. Firstly, it strengthens the team and secondly, the rival misses out and might find it difficult to find an alternative. In Matic's case, the player was directly bought from the defending champions Chelsea.

This represents an even bigger effect as Matic was key to Chelsea's title win in the previous season, where United finished sixth. Further, Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is yet to adequately replace him, with AS Monaco's Tiemoue Bakayoko the only midfield arrival.

Now, considering the fact that Chelsea did not compete in Champions League last year and their thin squad was relatively free from injuries, new signings were needed for this season. However, selling Matic not only deprives the Blues of squad depth but also has a negative effect on their European hopes.

In all of this, United and Mourinho get a player they want and need. Thus, Matic's signing is more than a double blow as it increases the chances for the Red Devil's to have a more successful season.

One can see from the above reason how Matic ticks every box one can expect from a transfer. While he may not be the most expensive signing this summer, there is no doubt he is the signing of the summer so far.