Manchester United in talks to sign Mexican midfielder: Solskjaer Should Tread Carefully Though

Manchester United officials were spotted in talks with Monterrey midfielder Carlos Rodriguez’s agents, it has been claimed.

According to Los Pleyers (via Talksport), Manchester United are in talks with Monterrey regarding the potential transfer of Carlos Rodriguez. United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reportedly keen on securing the services of the Mexican international, who has impressed in the LIGA MX Clausura this season.

Carlos Rodriguez: The right choice by Solskjaer?

Rodriguez played an integral role in helping Monterrey win the CONCACAF Champions League earlier this year. The 22-year-old made eight appearances and provided one assist in the coveted tournament, which is regarded as the Central and North American equivalent of the Champions League.

As a result of Rodriguez’s impressive performances, he made his debut for the Mexican national team in March, when he was involved in the 3-1 win over Chile.

As far as his gameplay is concerned, Rodriguez is an attack-minded midfielder, who loves to venture forward with the ball. He can combine well with his teammates in the final third and is often on the lookout for that defence-threading through-pass.

The 22-year-old is proficient in delivering long-passes or lofted through balls, which were prevalent throughout the course of this season. He can also drift past defenders using nimble footwork and is a specialist from set-pieces, both of which can be useful especially probing a defensively rigid opposition.

On the flip side, Rodriguez lacks defensive work-rate. This is one of the areas he certainly needs to improve upon if he is to thrive at a higher level of football. Another significant weakness in his game is his apparent lack of physical strength.  Although Rodriguez is an aggressive midfielder, he can at times be too easily dispossessed, which could be a problem in the physically demanding nature of the Premier League.

As for Manchester United, they are in desperate need of midfield reinforcements this summer. Ander Herrera has already confirmed he will be leaving the club at the end of the season while the likes of Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba have also been linked with moves away from Old Trafford this summer.

But, from a sporting perspective, the addition of someone as inexperienced as Rodriguez wouldn’t make much sense for Manchester United especially when they are in such a crucial moment in their transition. The Mexican international has only made 37 competitive appearances for Monterrey and integrating to the fast-paced nature of English football could be a little too difficult for him at the moment. The Old Trafford outfit will do better to look elsewhere for the solutions they seek.