3 potential replacements for Paul Pogba at Manchester United
In the summer of 2019, Paul Pogba stunned everyone by openly expressing his desire to leave United in search of a 'fresh challenge'. Even though a move did not materialize, speculations were ripe that the Frenchman was not going to stay at Old Trafford for long. To make matters worse, Pogba picked up an injury at the start of September and even though he briefly returned to face Arsenal at the end of the month, he has not featured for United since. With the January transfer window fast approaching, the rumor mill is buzzing with tales of imminent departure, however, nothing concrete has been reported yet.
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As such, it is only a matter of time before Manchester United start to think about contingency plans for the Frenchman’s departure. Given his world-class abilities, replacing Pogba might not be the easiest task, but there are a handful of players United could turn to. Today, we bring you the 3 potential replacements for the Frenchman at Manchester United.
3. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Serbia, Lazio)
The Serbian is perhaps the most suitable replacement for Pogba in every way possible. Like the Frenchman, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic likes operating from the left of a midfield three. Similar to Pogba, the Serbian can both attack and defend, and both first caught the eye of the world while playing in the Serie A.
Milinkovic-Savic joined Lazio from Genk in the summer of 2015 as a 20-year-old and steadily progressed into one of the brightest young talents in the world. He was nicknamed the “Paul Pogba of Serbia” because of his resemblance to the Frenchman on the field. The Serbian uses his tall frame and athletic abilities to provide steel in the middle of the park. With the ball in his feet, though, Milinkovic-Savic is assured and composed and also has an inclination to play open, attacking football. In Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s fast and fluid system, he would be right at home.
The Serbian is an excellent passer of the ball, switching play very well and picking out his teammates with intelligent balls. He also has the ability to dribble his way into the box, akin to Pogba and carries a goal-scoring threat from midfield that will excite United fans. He can be a physical presence in the midfield and also has a record of contributing from set-pieces in both boxes thanks to his aerial prowess. The Serbian has the mentality to play under pressure, as he has displayed time and again and such a character would only make Manchester United better.
To make matters even more interesting, Milinkovic-Savic will only turn 25 next February, which means that with the right guidance, he would get even better. The Serbian is currently averaging 2.1 shots, 1.4 key passes and 1 dribble per game. He has also attempted around 1.7 tackles per game this season. If United do need a replacement for Pogba, the Serbian would fit the bill, but he will not come cheap. However, money should not be a problem for the Red Devils.
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