Ex-Manchester United star Louis Saha has urged his former side to sign Newcastle ‘monsters’ as their summer midfield transformation continues to take shape.
Last summer, Manchester United launched the opening phase of a major squad overhaul, investing more than £200 million to reshape an attack that had struggled for goals the previous season.
The club added proven Premier League performers in Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, while also securing the signature of highly rated striker Benjamin Šeško.
To help finance the rebuild, several high-profile names were moved on, including Antony, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.
Attention is now expected to shift to the midfield this summer. Casemiro has confirmed he will leave Old Trafford, while the futures of Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes remain uncertain heading into the new campaign.
Saha insists on Tonali and Guimarães swoop
As Manchester United prepare for life after Casemiro, former Man Utd forward Louis Saha has urged his former side to sign Newcastle duo Bruno Guimarães and Sandro Tonali.
As reported by TEAMtalk, he said, “United need aggressiveness and someone that will dictate the midfield. I see someone more like Tonali or Guimaraes, who are two monsters in midfield.
“With players like [Kobbie] Mainoo, you need someone alongside him who has the experience and vision to manage the transition when Casemiro goes. You need that experience, directness and decisiveness. It’ll be hard to replace.
“If you bring in a young player, it’s a disruption. It’s great for the future, but you need experience. If Casemiro goes, I think a combination of Wharton and Guimaraes would be great because Guimaraes is more of a captain.”
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Man Utd’s current favoured midfield targets
Both Tonali and Guimarães have both been valued at between £80-100 million, as interest from top European clubs has escalated.
The outlet has reported that ” as things stand, their favoured targets are Elliot Anderson and Carlos Baleba. But they will have to spend around £200m to sign the Premier League duo.”
Read More: Manchester United may consider selling “indispensable” player to fund a summer overhaul
Having missed out on Baleba last summer, the Cameroonian international’s performances have taken a dip this season, but the club are still very interested in the 22-year-old, and considering the club’s long-term interest in the transfer, a deal should be fairly straightforward.
A move for Anderson will be much trickier to complete, with a number of clubs interested in the midfielder’s signature. Rivals Manchester City have identified the 23-year-old as a prime target.
Should he enjoy a breakout World Cup campaign in the summer, the interest for Anderson will only continue to grow, and United could miss out on one of their main targets, especially if they fail to have Champions League football to offer at Old Trafford next season.
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