Manchester United have dispatched officials to make in-person checks on two exciting midfield stars, as INEOS aim to overhaul their midfield this summer.
Man Utd launch officials to watch midfield duo
After completing a successful attacking rebuild last summer, Man United are set to turn their attention to the middle of the park at the end of the current campaign.
With Casemiro set to leave the club as a free agent, one of the summer priorities at Old Trafford will be finding an adequate replacement. The Brazilian has quietly become an important player in the last 12 months, proving the likes of Jamie Carragher wrong, and will be a tough man to replace this summer.
There's been rumours about a lot of potential candidates to replace the former Real Madrid man, but if it was down to him then Bruno Guimaraes would reportedly be on his way.
Following recent claims that Man United are lining up a summer swoop to sign the Newcastle United star, he'll certainly be one to watch. There's no doubting his quality, either. Guimaraes is the type of player who could prove to be transformative.
It won't be a routine deal to pull off, though. Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has already shut the rumours down, saying: "I don’t even know how to respond to that. I don’t even think I should because it’s a waste of my energy.
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Manchester United will make an elite midfield signing their priority this summer.
"I’m not going to be impolite because I don’t think it’s the forum to do that in. For me it’s a nonsense story."
If it is "nonsense" as Howe said, then those at Old Trafford could turn their focus towards France. According to TeamTalk, Man United launched officials to watch Lamine Camara and Maghnes Akliouche last weekend as Monaco defeated Lyon courtesy of a goal from the latter.
Akliouche & Camara would transform Man Utd midfield
Although the Monaco duo are unlikely to be cheap, they're arguably better options than Guimaraes on his own. The Newcastle man is already at the peak of his powers and would make an instant impact, but he wouldn't be a long-term option. Akliouche and Camara would.
LIgue 1 stats 25/26 Akliouche Camara
Minutes 1,893 1,388
Tackles 35 41
Goals 6 0
Assists 3 4
Recoveries 122 125
Chances Created 31 27
The two Monaco stars are all-rounders at the heart of midfield and would instantly form an excellent partnership alongside Kobbie Mainoo at Old Trafford. In a future without Bruno Fernandes, those three stand out as the stars that could carry the Red Devils back to the top of English football.
akliouche-as-monaco
Compared to Casemiro, Akliouche and Camara have got more assists, won more recoveries and created more chances so far this season. If United are looking to replace the Brazilian whilst avoiding the cost of Guimaraes, then they must turn towards the Monaco midfielders this summer.