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"This might sound strange" - Journalist names Man Utd's top target, he's "better than Caicedo"

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has promised some surprises in a new book detailing 21 meaningful matches of his career.

Ferguson opens up about new book United fans will love

The 84-year-old, who enjoyed unprecedented success during a 27-year reign at Old Trafford, has chosen games which span his whole life, from the shipyards of Goven to two Champions League crowns and 13 Premier League titles at United.

“I’ve selected 21 football games for this book which are particularly meaningful to me,” said the Scot, whose 2013 autobiography sold over one million copies in the UK alone, ahead of the October publication of Games of My Life.

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“The choices may surprise you because, rather than dwelling on the matches I’ve written about previously or those that might immediately register in the minds of fans, I’ve chosen games that take me back to different points in my life and which, even after the decades have passed, count for so much.

“Some of these games are not in any television archive. They are just memories. But, in my mind, I am watching them now – in vivid colour.”

And it's one of Ferguson's famous students currently leading United towards what looked at one stage like an unlikely top four finish, with Michael Carrick looking to earn his place as the new permanent manager with a strong finish to the season.

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Losing him would be a major blow.

The former Middlesbrough boss has won six of his eight matches in charge so far, and the club are now making plans for a costly summer transfer window that may involve one of his former players at the Riverside Stadium.

Alex Crook says Premier League star is United's top target

Indeed, talkSPORT's Alex Crook believes United will bring in just one of the expensive options in midfield this summer, namely Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton and Sandro Tonali.

The reporter says the club will likely supplement one big signing in midfield with one cheaper addition, which could be where Boro's Hayden Hackney comes in.

Asked to pick just one of the rumoured targets as the man to replace Casemiro and partner Kobbie Mainoo for the long-term future, Crook named Brighton's Baleba.

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"This might sound strange, because he's not having the best season at Brighton, but I think Baleba would be the perfect foil for Mainoo, because he's more of that sitting midfielder, because Kobbie's big strength for me is carrying the ball.

"Wharton's range of passing is terrific but we've already got Bruno Fernandes who can do that. I guess if you're looking for a combination of the two - Baleba and Wharton - that would be Anderson or Tonali, so it will be fascinating to see which of those players United stumble upon.

"The nagging sense in my mind, when you look at what happened last summer and again they made enquiries in January, is that Baleba has always been their number one target from that list of players."

The 22 year-old Cameroon international has not been at his best for the Seagulls this season after having his head turned by United's interest last summer, scoring less goals, completing a lower percentage of passes and making fewer tackles than he did in the previous campaign.

However, former teammate Glenn Murray claims he is "better than Moises Caicedo", so there is certainly high hopes for his potential from those who have seen him close up.

One thing is for sure, INEOS will need to splash the cash in United's midfield department, and if they can perform a similar revamp to last summer's attacking transformation, whoever is in the dugout will have a squad fit for greater ambitions next season.

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