“He has got that…”: Arsenal icon explains why United must sign 28-yo PL midfield warrior

Manchester United remain linked with several midfielders as they prepare for life after Casemiro. The veteran midfielder has been in red-hot form this season, scoring nine goals in 35 appearances and helping the Red Devils finish third in the league. However, the Brazilian is set to leave Old Trafford this summer at the end of his contract. The Premier League giants are now searching for his replacement, with the midfield expected to dominate their transfer activity this summer. INEOS received praise for their strategy last summer, when their decision to invest wisely in the attack and goalkeeping departments addressed two major issues in the squad. United are now out to repeat the trick with the midfield this year, with Premier League-proven talent likely to be on the agenda once again. Several candidates from the top tier of English football have already been linked with a move to Old Trafford as a result. Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson is on the list, but one of his team-mates who has also been tipped to make the move is Ibrahim Sangare. A strong replacement for Casemiro Sangare arrived at Toulouse as a teenager in 2016 and soon broke into the senior side. Such was his impact that PSV Eindhoven came calling in 2020, and the player enjoyed an impressive run at the Philips Stadion. That prompted Forest to prise him away in 2023 and the Ivorian has been with the West Bridgford club ever since. After a slow start to life at the City Ground, Sangare has come into his own this season. The 28 year old has registered two goals and three assists in 42 appearances, flourishing in a defensive midfield role. Ibrahim Sangare Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Premier League2724225-2,015′ UEFA Europa League147-11-739′ EFL Cup10—-6′ Total4231236-2,760′ Source: Transfermarkt. The 6’3” Ivorian is known to be a dominant presence in the middle of the park, where his ability to win back possession and screen the backline makes him an asset. Sangare is adept at tackling but also possesses impressive ball-carrying ability, making him a fine potential replacement for Casemiro at Old Trafford. Despite his recent performances, a previous report from The Peoples Person suggests that the player is not a priority for the Red Devils. However, Arsenal legend Ian Wright begs to differ. Wright advises United to sign Sangare Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Wright suggested that Sangare could be a good option to address United’s midfield conundrum. He said: “You know who I quite liked as well? That Sangare at Forest? He has got that… You know something?” “When I watched him, I thought to myself, obviously, maybe some of the technical, but like he’s, physicality. That’s the kind of player, you know, with Utd. You could get him in at Utd, with the quality around him, you just do that. Just do that physical stuff. I think that’s the kind of profile.” Sangare is under contract at the City Ground until 2028, so Forest could demand a hefty fee for his signature. However, the Ivorian is likely to be a lot cheaper than Anderson, who is expected to cost around £100 million this summer. Final Thoughts While Sangare’s Premier League experience could appeal to United, he will turn 29 in December. INEOS have preferred to sign younger players since taking charge and may not be too keen to invest in the Ivorian. Featured image by Molly Darlington/Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.