Another Midfielder Linked

Drifter

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Manchester United are set to make a January move for promising Athletic Bilbao midfielder Javi Martinez, according to Elf Voetbal.

The Spain World Cup 2010 winner has continued to excel in the Primera Division this term and is understood to be viewed by Sir Alex Ferguson as a long-term replacement for Paul Scholes.

Although linked to Premier League rivals Liverpool and Manchester City in the past, United are ready to swoop for the versatile player's signature.

Martinez's comfort as either a Scholes-esque playmaker or battler in the style of Owen Hargreaves would add depth to the Old Trafford squad. A big money bid in the New Year is believed to be enough to convince Bilbao to do business.
 
So which is he, a battler or a Scholes'esque elegant playmaker?

I don't think we need another "jack of all trades", unless he is of course, excellent at
both. (anyone who knows much about him?)

I know he has been randomly linked, especially to Pool under Rafa, to quite a few clubs over the last couple of seasons.
 
And another one at right-back

In the Daily Mail Manchester United are in a funk over Danish "goalkeeping sensation" Anders Lindegaard, who is 26 and plays for Aalesunds in Norway. Liverpool, Arsenal and Milan have previously expressed an interest. Lindegaard has been playing properly for only about a year. United are also pawing lasciviously at the skirts of the Uruguayan right-back Bruno Montelongo, who is on loan at Milan from River Plate and valued at £7m.
 
It's funny how players are compared depending on the interested team. When he was linked with Liverpool he was a Gerrard/Vieira.
 
raisa84045 said:
So which is he, a battler or a Scholes'esque elegant playmaker?

I don't think we need another "jack of all trades", unless he is of course, excellent at
both. (anyone who knows much about him?)

I know he has been randomly linked, especially to Pool under Rafa, to quite a few clubs over the last couple of seasons.
Click to expand...

what we need is a mobile player who is good on the ball. We only have Fletcher who covers a lot of ground - and perhaps Hargreaves if he ever gets back to his old self - but that will be a bonus more than anything
 
He's a good play. He's more of a box to box player than a play maker ala Scholes. Not that he can't play football. He's a big strong lad too, over 6 foot for sure.

We've been linked with him in the past I think too.
 
Nah, he's good and still young but his most impressive feature is coming up for set pieces and scoring with his head. He's not an amazing passer with really good vision just because he's Spanish like some of the press believes. Bilbao are a set pieces side and they like a long ball to try and set Llorente off. And despite that, Martinez is not their most creative passer.
 
Didnt he play for Spain in the 2000 Olympics or am I thinking of someone else? If he did I cant imagine he is all that young now?
 
Jason F said:
Didnt he play for Spain in the 2000 Olympics or am I thinking of someone else? If he did I cant imagine he is all that young now?
Click to expand...

Must be someone else, he would have been 12 in 2000
 
Javi Martinez is not a Scholes type player. He is not a playmaker. He is more of a defensive midfielder. He in my opinion is pretty overrated. I have seen him play and he is not the best player coming through the Spanish ranks.
 
Aside from a Fellaini-type ability in the air, I don't think he would offer a lot which Fletcher doesn't already provide.
 
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