Manchester United were shockingly upset 3-2 at Old Trafford on Saturday by Blackburn Rovers, who sat at the bottom of the Premier League table coming into the match.
As United manager Sir Alex Ferguson watched his side get beaten by a far inferior opponent on his 70th birthday, it was clear that the legendary manager needs to bring in reinforcements during the January transfer window to strengthen his squad for the rest of the season.
The poor play in the midfield, like it has for most of the season, really hurt the Red Devils chances of winning on Saturday, especially after the visitors took a 2-0 lead thanks to a brace from Rovers forward Yakubu.
Ferguson must upgrade his talent in the midfield because his team really lacks a creative and playmaking player to create quality chances for the forwards.
The loss of United legend Paul Scholes, who recently retired, has taken a huge toll on the club's quality in the middle third of the pitch.
Ji-Sung Park, Anderson and Michael Carrick just aren't good enough to help the club win games on a consistent basis. Neither of them can pass extremely well or be counted on to score goals.
There are a number of players who can help Manchester United in the midfield, and if Ferguson wants his club to have any chance at an FA Cup, Europa League or Premier League trophy this season, then he must buy a world-class midfielder in January.
Who is out there for United to possibly make a move for? Let's look at a few possibilities.
1) Wesley Sneijder, Inter Milan
The 27-year-old Dutchman was a transfer target of Ferguson's in the summer, but the deal did not happen because of the Inter Milan star's high weekly wages.
A report from the Mirror this past week suggests the deal could be back on, and Sneijder is exactly the kind of player that Manchester United need to win trophies.
He is a world-class playmaker who is experienced in big games and can score goals as well. His passing skills are amazing and he is a leader on the pitch.
His price tag will be high—likely at least £30 million, which is a lot for someone who is 27 years old, but Sneijder is the perfect player to address the club's weaknesses.
2) Jack Rodwell, Everton
Everton's 19-year-old midfielder Jack Rodwell has had a fine season under manager David Moyes, and it's no secret that Ferguson thinks the young England international is a solid player.
According to the Metro, a £10 million fee plus Michael Carrick might be what United could offer Everton for Rodwell.
The Toffees are 10th in the league table and may sell Rodwell if they receive an offer from Ferguson or any other club that is too good to refuse.
Moyes needs to make his squad stronger, but allowing Rodwell to leave would be a risky move.
The young midfielder plays well defensively and is fundamentally sound in most aspects of football. He would be a promising young talent who could flourish under Ferguson's teaching.
3) Luka Modric, Tottenham
Manchester United may be looking to offer Tottenham a fair price for their star midfielder Luka Modric, but you can bet that Spurs will be looking to do everything they can to keep the Croatian midfielder.
Modric is a fantastic playmaker who does everything well in the midfield. He would be a perfect fit at Old Trafford and would give forwards like Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov someone who can feed them the ball in good opportunities to score goals.
The price will be high for Modric, but his talent and skills are exactly what United need at the moment.
4) Christian Eriksen, Ajax
Ajax midfielder Christian Eriksen is only 19 years old, but he has earned much respect throughout Europe as a quality playmaker that has all the talent needed to be a future star.
The Daily Mail recently reported that Manchester United are looking at the player for a possible transfer.
"This is a player that is on our radar," United assistant coach Rene Meulensteen said. "But that is to be expected. If people weren't looking, no-one would ever have an opinion on these players. It is true that a player like Eriksen would fit our transfer policy."
Eriksen has a lot of potential, and for the right price he would be a fantastic addition to the United midfield.
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