Modric is definitely a creative player and plays in a midfield three behind an attacking trio. Kroos is a German Xabi Alonson regen, also plays in a midfield three behind an attacking trio.
Are you saying that neither Modric nor Kroos could play alongside Casemiro in a 4-2-3-1? Kroos has frequently played this role at both club and international level?
Similarly for de Jong and Gundogan.
Barcelona have been a bit all over the place this season, but have most frequently used a 4-2-3-1 system, with Busquets and de Jong sitting behind an attacking quartet.
Kimmich is definitely a defensive player and not creative. Also plays in a midfield three behind an attacking trio.
Only two players in Europe's top 5 leagues have created more chances per 90 minutes from midfield than Kimmich this season. He usually plays in a midfield two with Goretzka (unless you are going argue that Thomas Muller is a 'midfielder', in which case can you explain how he is
more of a midfielder than Bruno?) To be honest, Kimmich can create, defend, pass, tackle, change position at will - he must be one of the most complete players in Europe, so maybe he's an unfair example.
Same with Thiago and Artur.
When Artur has played this season it's generally been in a 4-4-2 or a 4-2-3-1 for Juve, with four attacking players ahead of him (as did Thiago at Bayern - Liverpool played him behind four attackers last night, but this, to be fair, is not their usual midfield set up). Again, both players are primarily there for recycling possession - they are not really 'DMs'.
Notice how Gundogan didn't play last time we met City in the league. Pep played Rodri and Fernandinho behind his attacking quartet (Mahrez, KDB, Sterling and Jesus).
Indeed. Although Gundogan did play as one of the two deep midfielders when City played us in the League Cup on 6 January and in both League Cup semi-finals last season and in the Premier League game at at Old Trafford last season too, which undermines this point somewhat.
I agree that you don't want a #10, a pure attacking player, sitting deep in front of your defence. However, it seems to me that it would be perfectly possible to accommodate a 'creative' player - a tempo-dictating deep lying playmaker, for example - alongside a ball-winner, in behind Bruno, in Ole's favoured 4-2-3-1...
I can't comment on Parejo, Tonati, Locatelli or Fabian Ruiz. Haven't watched them nearly enough.
Locatelli would probably be my first choice for that position.