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29 March 2024

Why Everton’s Fellaini is Man Utd’s Yaya Toure

Liverpool's English striker Andy Carroll (R) vies with Everton's Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini (L) during the FA Cup semi-final football match between Everton and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium in London, England. (AFP)

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By Staff

The cost of losing the title to Manchester City will be somewhere in the region of 20 million-odd pounds.

However, the cost to the pride and legacy of Manchester United will be much more.

Nobody knows that better than Sir Alex Ferguson. He created it. Know, he must save it.

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The difference between Manchester United and Manchester City this season has boiled down to one area of the pitch – the midfield.

In the last few games it has boiled down to one player – Yaya Toure.

Even the great Paul Scholes, coming out of retirement, could not match City’s giant midfield general.

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If Manchester United are to compete, there is the gaping hole in midfield that Sir Alex needs to fill.

He needs a general. Tom Cleverley is still a foot soldier. Anderson is an underperforming lieutenant.

Michael Carrick has risen to the occasion but is hardly the type of bombing physical threat that Toure brings.

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Sir Alex has said he fears any United target will be outbid by City, which means if the player is talented and on the radar, City have the financial muscle to keep him out of United’s reach.

This is why Sir Alex will have to look just beneath the radar. Perhaps closer to home in the Premier League than Europe.

Everton’s Marouanne Fellaini is the one midfielder this season that has shown the Yaya Toure type of qualities.

In fact, he has grown in to the role of midfield general at Everton and when he does not play, the Toffees suffer.

He will not cost Sir Alex as much as a marquee signing from the mainland.

He can head, he can tackle, he can hold the ball, he can score, but most importantly David Moyes has trained him to take charge of a game – as he showed in the now watershed 4-4 draw with United.

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Fellaini can be Manchester United’s Yaya Toure.

Someone has to be.

Man Utd to battle for 18-year-old Powell

Manchester United are renewing their interest in 18-year-old attacking midfielder Nick Powell.

 

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson took time out from the title race to make a personal check on the Crewe wunder kid as he starred for the League Two play-off semi-finalists, according to the Mirror.

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The United chief has been told to sign Powell, who has hit 15 goals this term, by his scouts, and he watched him with coach Mike Phelan so he can make an early bid.

Powell was the target of Premier League bidders in the last transfer window, with the Railwaymen rejecting offers.

Spurs are still favourites for Powell, with Arsenal and Chelsea also keen keen but Ferguson hopes he will be able to land the starlet.

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However, although Powell is intent in moving on this summer, he would prefer a smaller team that could give him the chance to progress and not get lost in the system, the report added.