Manchester United have plans to strengthen in midfield next year after overlooking the position in the summer.
Carlos Baleba of Brighton and Hove Albion was the top target in the summer, but his valuation proved beyond INEOS’ reach. His price is unlikely to decrease significantly in January, despite his underwhelming displays this term.
Adam Wharton is another target, but Crystal Palace are unlikely to let him go on the cheap given his importance to Oliver Glasner’s plans.
Ruben Amorim’s former Sporting CP protege Morten Hjulmand is a more economical option. Still, the Portuguese giants might not be ready to part ways with their skipper in the middle of the season.
Midfielder hunt
As relayed by CaughtOffside, the Red Devils have shifted their attention to AS Roma’s midfield dynamo Manu Kone.
United’s interest mainly stems from the fact that the Frenchman plays in a similar system for the Serie A side, which makes him uniquely qualified to come in and make an instant impact at Old Trafford.
The 24-year-old can play both as a No.8 and as a defensive midfielder, and is adept at carrying the ball from deep, something Amorim could do with.
“Interesting to note that Manu Kone particularly is playing in a system very similar to one which Ruben Amorim deploys.”
Casemiro does not have the legs to do so anymore, while Manuel Ugarte’s ball progression skills are not his strongest suit.
Manu Kone fits the bill
Interestingly, Roma will ask for €55 million, a price the 20-time English league champions should have little trouble paying.
Whether the France international will agree to move in January remains to be seen, given his importance to Roma’s plans.
The fact that he will earn regular minutes for the Giallorossi makes him a strong contender to get picked for France’s World Cup squad. And Manu Kone might not agree to disrupt those plans mid-season.
Now, for INEOS to decide whether to approach one of their targets in January, or wait till next summer to strike. Amorim needs midfield reinforcements immediately.
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Ayantan Chowdhury
After failing to become a professional footballer, Ayantan switched to the next best thing: writing about the greatest football club in the world. He has extensive sports journalism experience, having worked for over 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
