Manchester United simply won’t take no for an answer on the Cesc Fabregas front – and good for them. But there’s so much time that can be wasted on doing something with only one outcome, and notably a negative one. Barcelona aren’t selling, because quite frankly they can’t afford to let him go, and the player seems quite content to remain in La Liga at least for one more season.

So it should be back to the drawing board for David Moyes. I wrote this week that Shinji Kagawa should be United’s creative centrepiece next season, but that a new midfielder was still very much a priority. Does this point to Marouane Fellaini as the only option?

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The thing is the Everton midfielder, for now, is the only obvious option. Thiago is off the table, so too is Kevin Strootman. Roma are said to be considering bids for Miralem Pjanic, but the Bosnian playmaker plays too far forward and in Kagawa’s position. While Marco Verratti, another option, has just signed a new long-term contract with PSG. This isn’t to say there is absolutely no one else, but for the sake of what we know, Fellaini looks to be the best option.

And fortunately the Belgian has hinted for a while that he wants to perform in a defensive midfield role next season, though pairing up with Moyes again may not be the smartest move. Fellaini is that auxiliary attacker that works so well in the Premier League when the decks are stacked, but United may not necessarily need someone like that. The attacking options in Robin van Persie, Kagawa and Wayne Rooney or another forward don’t really point to the need for a complete attacking revamp midway through games; United always seem to find goals.

But it’s the power and protection Fellaini can offer from midfield, as well as the surging runs from deep that were clearly absent from United’s game last season. Yaya Toure’s forward bursts at the Bernabeu last season is exactly what United need to make their midfield more complete, and the addition of Fellaini, while not the most technically proficient, certainly offers that new dimension.

Everton probably won’t want to sell to United – in fact I’m sure they’ll dig their heels in for as long as humanly possible. But the issue may be that Fellaini wants to test himself higher up the English ladder and certainly in the Champions League. If United are willing to throw £40 million at Barcelona for Fabregas, then they’re certainly serious about landing a major new signing and are clearly open to spending big. The team needs it, but more than anything Moyes needs it. A major addition will allow the new manager to announce himself and hopefully put to bed any concerns fans and the media may have as to his power to draw top talents.

The transfer market may open up an avenue of alternate options for United later this month, notably with names like Luka Modric possibly becoming available. But do the club hold out hope or take action to make up ground on the pace set by free-spending Manchester City? The positive is that Fellaini was on the shopping list prior to the summer market opening, so the club are hardly turning to an obscure name at the last minute.

With everything considered – transfer fee, availability and familiarity between player and manager – Fellaini would be a good move for United. Not only would Fellaini address an on-pitch need, but the signs point to his arrival anyway. Why wait until the last minute of the transfer window?

Is Fellaini the best option for Man United this summer?

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