It is Manchester United’s most urgent need as the Erik ten Hag era begins at Old Trafford.
A midfielder, or ideally two, to replace dealers Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic and Juan Mata, finally resolving a shortcoming in the United squad that has been getting worse for a few years.
His lack of a first-class defensive or central midfielder – with Fred and Scott McTominay the usual combination – has once again been brutally exposed by many opponents in the disappointing season that has just ended.
Sportsmail is evaluating some of the possible targets in this problematic position and the chances of United signing them.
New Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag will have to bring in a midfielder or two
FRENKIE DE JONG
United’s first-choice goal. The Barcelona man knows Ten Hag well after having enjoyed a couple of successful years playing with him at Ajax, a moment that included his career in the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2019.
Although De Jong has two years left on his contract, the Camp Nou club, whose financial problems are well documented, appear to be open to sell him this summer.
They paid Ajax £ 75 million for De Jong in 2019 and will want to recoup most, if not all, of that fee given their obvious midfield talent and 25 years.
Despite the personal connection with Ten Hag, United are facing several obstacles to achieve what would be their summer box office purchase.
De Jong has made it clear this week that he wants to stay at Barcelona, where he is a regular in LaLiga and the Champions League.
Frenkie de Jong is a main target for United, but he wants to stay with Barcelona
‘I prefer to stay with Barcelona. Barcelona is just the club of my dreams. Also from a young age, “he told ESPN.
“I have never regretted my choice, even though I was expecting more in terms of the awards I have won so far. But I never regretted my choice.
You also have to wonder if a top-flight player like De Jong would like to give up Champions League football with Barça next season for the Europa League at United, which also looks far from winning anything.
De Jong was one of Ten Hag’s two deepest midfielders at Ajax and would probably play a similar role at United, being exactly what they need right now.
But it is clear that there is a good deal of reluctance on the part of the player that United should overcome first.
GREAT THINGS
Reports last weekend suggested United are interested in signing Chelsea midfielder Chelsea and Frenchman Kante.
The 31-year-old has only one year left on his contract at Stamford Bridge, although Chelsea are unlikely to consider selling Kante, especially to a direct rival.
There is no doubt that Kante is still one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League – and is therefore highly valued by Thomas Tuchel – but he is increasingly susceptible to injury as he enters the final years of his career. .
Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante would strengthen United in midfield, but is now prone to injury
The past season saw his involvement limited by a knee problem and other setbacks, meaning he started just 21 of Chelsea’s 38 league games. Kante had a dismissal with a hamstring problem last season.
Tuchel recently described the midfield battlehorse as a “key player, key, key” and “the guy who makes the difference,” and suggested he wouldn’t like to see him leave.
Kante’s tireless effort and his huge big game experience will really lift United.
Chelsea’s midfield is also well stocked, with Declan Rice linked with them and Conor Gallagher returning from his successful loan at Crystal Palace. But Jorginho, more than Kante, would surely be the one to sell himself to make room.
RUBEN NEVES
The Portuguese midfielder first stepped into United’s radar when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in the lead and reportedly made a £ 35million offer to the Wolves in January which was rejected.
The asking price now appears to have risen to £ 50 million, but it does not seem to have deterred United from making another effort to sign a player who has not been receptive to a contract extension beyond 2024 at Molineux.
Despite the discomfort among the fans, it seems that the Wolves have accepted that Neves wants to leave and it seems that they have started to line up substitutes.
Ruben Neves of the Wolves has been on United’s radar for a long time, but it could cost £ 50 million
Neves, who scored four goals in 36 games for the Wolves last season and adjusts to United’s vacancy in midfield, will be looking forward to advancing in European football.
He will definitely want to play at the top level as he looks towards the World Cup in Qatar with Portugal at the end of the year.
United’s biggest problem is that they are likely to face competition from Neves de Arsenal and Barcelona.
DECLAN ARROSS
Almost certainly the best defensive midfielder in the Premier League right now, Rice has continued his excellent form from Euro 2020 last summer to West Ham.
In the end, his season ran out of real prizes after losing to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League semi-finals and finishing only seventh in the Premier League when the top four seemed like a realistic prospect at one point.
Therefore, it can be difficult for the Hammers to convince Rice, who has been linked with Chelsea and Manchester City, as well as United, to stay.
England and West Ham star Declan Rice could win £ 100m, but will have a lawsuit
He will not leave without receiving a substantial transfer fee, however, with his valuation of the English international north of £ 100 million.
That would represent a record share of the club for United, which would swallow most of a transfer budget that has already been limited by the lack of Champions League football, and it’s really about whether Ten Hag considers it a worthwhile investment.
On the surface, however, 23-year-old Rice would seem to offer United everything they need in this troubled midfield.
SERGEY MILINKOVIC-SAVIC
Another summer, another United link with Lazio midfielder Milinkovic-Savic, who looks set to be watched by some four Old Trafford coaches.
The 27-year-old Serb has just enjoyed a very good season with 11 goals and 12 assists in 47 appearances for the Serie A club, who finished fifth in the Europa League.
Reports in Italy suggest that Juventus, another Milinkovic-Savic contender, are more likely to chase Pogba, which could pave the way.
United’s former Sergej Milinkovic-Savic goal celebrates Lazio’s goal
But the problem will be the transfer fee. Italian reports suggest that Lazio are asking for up to £ 77 million for the player, which seems quite exorbitant.
There should be room for United to haggle over this a bit if that is the case and have the strength to be able to offer Milinkovic-Savic a better salary for the same level of European football next season.
They should also be more likely to be offered the Football Champions League in the coming years, a competition in which the Serb has only played once.
AURELIEN TCHOUAMENI
One of the many in the race to sign the Monaco midfielder, with a qualification of 68 million pounds, seems that United has lagged behind, with Real Madrid approaching his signing.
The European champions, with more money than they expected after not signing Kylian Mbappe, are in pole position ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool and everyone else.
Real Madrid are in pole position to sign Monaco’s Aurelien Tchouameni this summer
He really sees Tchouameni as a long-term replacement for Luka Modric, 37, in the middle of the field and is throwing a lot of resources into a five-year contract.
To that end, it is another potential goal that United will miss.
YVES BISSOUMA
United looked closely at how Bissouma could lead a midfield when Brighton thrashed them 4-0 at Amex Stadium in the final weeks of the season.
The 25-year-old Mali international could emerge as a potential option for United, with Bissouma entering the final year of his contract with Brighton and clearly capable of playing at a higher level.
Yves Bissouma (left) faces Scott McTominay during Brighton’s 4-0 thrashing of United
Reports suggest that Monaco may resort to Bissouma to replace its Tchouameni-shaped hole in the middle of the field and will have plenty of money to throw at it.
But with Brighton forced to charge this summer or risk losing one of their best players for nothing, United could get him somewhere between £ 30m and £ 40m.
PS What about Donny van de Beek and James Garner?
United may not have to spend as much as they thought they would to improve their midfield this summer, with two returning players potentially able to join the Ten Hag team.
The new boss certainly knows all about Donny van de Beek, having been his coach at Ajax, and so he could revive his career at United with a regular role as a midfielder.
Donny van de Beek worked with Ten Hag at Ajax and was finally able to start his career at United
Van de Beek endured a frustrating time warming up on the bench under Solskjaer and then a thigh injury ruined his loan at Everton during the second half of the campaign.
It’s fair to say that if Ten Hag can’t get the best out of Van de Beek, no one can. If it can’t, United could also drop a player who spent £ 40 million.
The other is young James Garner, who has just enjoyed an excellent season on loan at Nottingham Forest after winning promotion to the Premier League.
The 21-year-old had a consistently good performance in the middle of Forest’s defensive midfield and many fans are asking Ten Hag to give him a chance to prove he can increase.
James Garner, 21, performed well for Nottingham Forest as he won promotion.