Michael Carrick for the better part of the decade has been THE midfield player for Manchester United. After his move from Tottenham in 2007, the former West Ham man has won all there is to win at club level in England and has been the cornerstone for that success.for that success.
There was a time, especially after Paul Scholes' retirement, when Michael Carrick single-handedly (well he had Tom Cleverly and Anderson) led Manchester United to the Premier League table. Now 35-years-old, and still a huge part of the Manchester United first team, Michael seems to be ready to hang up his boots finally.
As Jose Mourinho put it, “I see many positive things in Carrick but I cannot go to his identity cards and delete five years. He is not 30”, and so the story begins of replacing him at Old Trafford.
#1 Tiemoué Bakayoko
The 22-year-old from Monaco is just one of those many stars at the Ligue 1 club attracting a lot of attention from around Europe. Also wanted by Chelsea, the French international (he got his first cap during the friendly against Spain), has been silently brilliant at the heart of midfield for the Ligue 1 leaders.
Schooled by none other than Jose Mourinho’s favourite Clude Makelele, the former Rennes man is like a stronger, taller version of him. “He told me that I had a tendency to get distracted. It was true. I took too many risks, but when you play in this position, you have to be calm and effective. He helped me channel myself.”
Not exactly a like for like replacement for Carrick, as Bakayoko isn’t as talented on the ball Carrick, but he could really be what Paul Pogba needs to truly shine in Manchester United colours.
#2 Eric Dier
Jose Mourinho is apparently a huge fan of the Englishman, having personally scouted him on many different occasions. Eric Dier has made the base of midfield position his for the England national team, although he has also played in the back four this term for Tottenham.
Calm on the ball, defensively sound, and a Manchester United fan he might be what the club needs. It’s quite evident that he is not the finished product at the moment, but at the age of 23-years, he has plenty of time to do it.
Again, he might not be as good a passer as Carrick is, but with time, he might develop those skills as he has shown in the last year or so.
#3 Timothy Fosu-Mensah
The Dutchman, signed from Ajax’s academy at the age of 16 has been in and around the Manchester United first team for around a year. He has all the attributes you would want in a player, good on the ball, fast and strong.
Recently he spoke about learning from Michael Carrick, “Well, not a trick but the understanding of the game that Michael [Carrick] has. I would love to add this to my game”, well anyone would.What;s in his favour is that Jose Mourinho rates the youngster highly.
Able to play as a centerback, a right back or in the defensive midfield position, there are rumours that Jose has been training the youngster to take over the mantle from Carrick.
#4 Daley Blind
Daley Blind arrived at Manchester United as a long term replacement for Michael Carrick. He did have a few brilliant games at the base of a midfield diamond for Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United (in his first season) but was eventually moved to the center back position next season.
Since then, somewhat curiously, the Dutchman has not featured in the central midfield position for Manchester United. He has played as left back, left wing back, left centerback, and even a right centerback but not in his preferred midfield position.
It remains to be seen if Jose Mourinho is confident on Blind’s physical prowess to grant him a defensive midfield position, but if he does, it will be interesting to see if the Dutchman can take the opportunity.
#5 Toni Kroos
Last but not the least, Toni Kross. As to the admission of David Moyes, Toni Kross was destined for Manchester United until Louis van Gaal, somewhat curiously blocked the move for the same man he promoted from the Bayern Munich academy.
But, there is no doubt about the ability of the German, able to marshall and dictate the pace and tempo of a game to the extent that Paul Scholes said, “Kroos is the best midfield passer in the world, towards the end of my career, I tried to emulate him.”
Given, what the former Manchester United man achieved at Old Trafford, it is high praise indeed. With ten assists from deep-lying midfield position for Real Madrid, Kroos will be the perfect replacement for Michael Carrick.
As Paul Scholes put it, “Kroos would be a perfect fit alongside [Ander] Herrera and [Paul] Pogba at Manchester United”.
