Manchester United have been offered the chance to sign former Chelsea star and England international Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Manchester United’s midfield has been an area on the pitch which has divided the fanbase for the last couple of seasons, but it is evident that now is the time to bring in reinforcements to bolster the side for the remainder of the season.
Under Michael Carrick, fans can expect an improved midfield, as the former United stalwart is likely to focus on this area going forward. This has been a weak point for the Red Devils throughout the season, often resulting in losses due to a lost midfield battle.
Kobbie Mainoo will likely receive more minutes as we progress towards the back end of the campaign, but both Manuel Ugarte and Mainoo lack the experience necessary to perform consistently, while Casemiro is a player with experience but is losing his legs with age.
The need for a midfielder has been a talking point since the start of the season, with INEOS seemingly refusing to purchase a necessary player in January. However, with all the changes going on at the club, they may likely change their stance on the strict transfer policy.
Loftus-Cheek offered to United
Rúben Loftus-Cheek has been offered to Manchester United by AC Milan, as the former Chelsea prospect is looking to make a return to the Premier League after struggling for minutes with the Italian giants in Serie A.
According to talkSPORT, talks are only exploratory, but Loftus-Cheek is keen to make a return to England and potentially play at Old Trafford. United are looking to sign a midfielder on loan to bolster the squad and improve their chances of Champions League qualification.
Loftus-Cheek was a player who had bundles of potential when climbing the ranks at Chelsea, and was tipped as the next big thing in both the Premier League and for England on an international level. However, the 30-year-old has not exactly reached those lofty heights.
It would be unfair to call the Cobham graduate a flop, as he has performed well whilst playing abroad, but this season he has struggled to make an impact and made quite a few appearances off the bench for AC Milan, who currently sit second in Italy’s top flight.
A loan move could work for both parties, with Loftus-Cheek being given the chance to reignite his career in England, and United bringing in a player with Premier League experience who can also get around the pitch easily.
Does Loftus-Cheek fit into Carrick’s system?
United’s 2-0 win over Manchester City on Saturday was a dominant performance to say the least, and fans should not get ahead of themselves so early, but it is evident that Carrick has a different plan for his side than what Ruben Amorim implemented whilst at the helm.
The former United midfielder understands what it takes to play week in week out at Old Trafford, and what sort of individual he wants controlling his team’s midfield. Loftus-Cheek is a powerful player who likes to dribble directly at defences and cause problems further up the pitch.
Read More: Kobbie Mainoo’s ‘extraordinary’ statistic vs Man City has proven Ruben Amorim horribly wrong
However, he is also a player with a strong physical presence and is not afraid to put himself on the line to win the ball back. It is a loan move that could push Manchester United back into the running for Champions League spots as favourites if he adapts to life back in the Premier League.
It is still left to be seen whether INEOS or the higher-ups at United are willing to bring in any more reinforcements during the January transfer window, but seeing a player with past Premier League experience for a top club in the division may persuade them to change their perspective.
Make sure to follow UtdDistrict on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to never miss out on any of our Manchester United content. Our podcast, What the Devil?, is streamed live every Thursday at 14:00 pm (GMT) on the United View YouTube channel.