Manchester United are going to perform extensive surgery on their squad this season and their midfield has long been a cause for concern, with another two senior figures in that department set to leave the club next month.
Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic will both depart at the end of June upon the expiry of their contracts, with manager Erik ten Hag looking to solve United’s midfield problem.
So far this summer, a move for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has dominated the headlines but there are now suggestions that Ten Hag could be looking to sign Chelsea star N’Golo Kante.
That’s according to The Athletic, who say that a move for Kante is under consideration by United amid his uncertain future at Stamford Bridge.
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The combative midfielder, 31, has just one year remaining on his deal in London and Thomas Tuchel is reportedly keen on building a new-look midfield.
As per the report, Kante’s injury record is, however, seen as a major worry. Kante started just 21 league games this season and is picking up injuries at a worrying pace.
SN’s verdict…
Manchester United have signed defensive midfielders from Chelsea before and, in truth, the London club does not have a problem selling their players to their rivals when they feel like they’re past their best.
That’s what they did with Nemanja Matic and although United benefitted from the Serbian’s arrival for the first 12 months, he was largely a bit-part player beyond that.
Kante’s availability is a huge hurdle and Chelsea’s unwillingness to offer him a new deal could be a red flag for United. Ultimately, whether United make a move for the France international will depend on if they land their main targets.