Leeds’ ‘£36m midfielder’ can help Manchester United to solve their problem

Out of all of the problems Manchester United have had in recent weeks, so many of them seem to come back to a lack of midfield depth.

United have needed a central defensive midfielder for the past two seasons. The only remaining number six at the club is Nemanja Matic but he can’t do a job for a full 90 minutes.

The problem without a young holding midfielder is that Rangnick hasn’t been able to play his best players together in a fluid formation. Having to use a double pivot to do one job means United don’t have an extra body to bomb forward in attacks.

Perhaps the best example of this can be found with Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes. United’s best creative midfielders, they both make each other tick, holding a great relationship on and off the field.

The last goal scored against Brighton epitomised this. Pogba quickly took a free-kick in the dying stages of the game to free up Fernandes, who eventually scored to seal a 2-0 triumph.

While Pogba and Fernandes were both sensational in the first half, they were eventually nullified and United were cut open too easily through the middle of the park.

It’s also backed up by evidence from the end of the 2019/20 season, when both Pogba and Fernandes fired United to third place after the COVID-19 shutdown. In most of the teams fielded by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Matic lined up alongside the two and it resulted in some of the best football of the Norwegian’s tenure.

It remains to be seen which defensive midfielder United might go for, but seeing as they’re playing Leeds on Sunday, they have one player who could provide a new attacking solution to United’s system.

That person is Kalvin Philips.

The 26-year-old, rated at £36m by Transfermarkt, has been absolutely pivotal since Marcelo Bielsa became manager of the Yorkshire side and he played an integral role in England getting to the final of Euro 2020. If we’re basing it off stats as well, he could be the perfect defensive midfielder for United.

As per FBRef.com, Phillips has averaged more tackles and interceptions (5.41) and more successful pressures per 90 minutes (9.64) than any other United midfielder this season.

Phillips would also allow United to be more attacking. He could help Pogba and Fernandes play together, but the Frenchman’s future is up in the air.

Even if Pogba leaves, Phillips could allow Donny van de Beek and Fernandes to play together. Like Pogba, the Dutchman likes to drift into more advanced positions and could become a key member of the starting XI with a defensive midfielder next to him.

Having been linked with United in the past, Phillips could fill a void that’s needed urgent repair for so long.

Would Phillips be a good option for United? Follow our United On My Mind writer Omar Garrick on Twitter to get involved in the discussion and give us your thoughts on the matter in the comments section below.