Manchester United have now opened talks with the agent of a "real leader", who would be keen on a move to Old Trafford this summer, according to a report.
Amorim needs to hit the ground running next season
Despite admitting it was always going to be "tough" to join Man United mid-way through the 2024-25 campaign, former Man United man Ashley Young believes Ruben Amorim needs to make a fast start to the 2024-25 campaign.
However, Amorim has a very particular style, meaning new personnel will be needed if his side are to kick on next season, and there has been a strong desire to bring in a new forward, with Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo emerging as a major target.
The Red Devils are hoping to get a deal for Mbeumo over the line as soon as possible, and having reportedly now struck an agreement, they can perhaps afford to turn their attentions towards strengthening other areas of the squad.
With Casemiro now 33-years-old, Amorim is looking to bring in a long-term replacement for the Brazilian, and an approach has been made for Richard Rios, while another midfielder has also emerged as a potential target.
According to a report from L'Equipe (via Sport Witness), Man United have now opened talks with the agent of Lyon midfielder Corentin Tolisso, in order to assess whether he would be willing to make a move to Old Trafford this summer.
Tolisso is said to be keen on the move, which could make it easier for United to orchestrate a deal, although he is unwilling to force an exit.
"Real leader" Tolisso could be exactly what United need
Roy Keane has been critical of the lack of leaders at Man United for quite some time, with the former midfielder saying: "You need characters, you need leaders, I keep repeating myself every week on here. That’s what you need from a group of players."
Roy Keane
As a result, it would make sense to bring in players with more of a presence in the dressing room this summer, and the Lyon star could fit the bill in that regard, having been described as a "real leader" by Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca.
Not only that, but the £90k-a-week maestro is clearly a very well-rounded midfielder, having performed very well across some key attacking and defensive statistics over the past year.
Statistic Average per 90
Non-penalty goals 0.28 (96th percentile)
Assists 0.17 (84th percentile)
Blocks 1.98 (97th percentile)
Aerials won 2.10 (93rd percentile)
Tolisso could be a solid signing for Man United this summer, but there may be some slight concerns about his age, with the central midfielder set to turn 31 before the new Premier League season gets underway.