Summary Man United could repeat their Wayne Rooney masterclass by raiding Everton for a new signing. A £50m midfielder is on the agenda for Erik ten Hag and co at Old Trafford. He ranks highly for tackles, interceptions, and ground duels, meaning he could bring added bite to the United midfield.
Erik ten Hag has set his sights on adding another one or two players to his Manchester United squad before the summer window slams shut in a couple of weeks.
Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana and Mason Mount have already joined the Old Trafford side and although there is the need for another defender, especially if Harry Maguire departs in the next few days, Ten Hag could also be tempted to sign a midfielder.
A Premier League star has been linked, and it appears as though the Red Devils are ready to make the next step to securing his signature.
Who do Man United want to sign this summer?
According to The Guardian, United look set to make an approach to Everton with regard to a potential deal for Amadou Onana.
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The Belgian only joined the Toffees from French side Lille last year, with the Merseyside club reluctant to sell this summer.
Sean Dyche would only entertain bids of over £50m as per the report and Everton are under no pressure to sell one of their prized assets so soon after arriving in the Premier League.
Who has played for both Man United and Everton?
United have endured mixed success by signing players from Everton throughout the previous 20 years.
The likes of Romelu Lukaku and Marouane Fellaini didn’t quite live up to expectations during their spell in Manchester, yet Wayne Rooney was arguably Sir Alex Ferguson’s finest signing.
Rooney joined the Red Devils aged just 18 having shone at the 2004 European Championships for England, yet it was his breakthrough at Everton which convinced Ferguson to make the move ahead of the 2004/05 season.
A debut hat trick set the tone for what would turn into a glory laden 13 years at Old Trafford, netting 253 goals in total. As it happens, Ten Hag could repeat United's Rooney masterclass by managing to convince Onana that a move along the M62 would be the best for his development.
The 21-year-old showcased his impressive defensive abilities from the heart of the Everton midfield as he was arguably one of their few bright sparks in an utterly woeful campaign that nearly culminated in their relegation.
He ranked third across the squad for tackles per game (2.2) and also finished in the top five for interceptions (1.1) and lost possession just 7.7 times per game, one of the lowest totals in the team.
Hailed as a “tenacious tackler” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the Belgian certainly could add that extra bit of bite into the United midfield and make them more formidable.
Winning a total of 4.2 ground duels – at a success rate of 59% – undoubtedly backs up this praise from Kulig and although potentially costing in excess of £50m, it would be a wise investment for not only the upcoming season, but for the next five to ten years.
Rooney arrived at Old Trafford under undue pressure to succeed and he more than repaid the club’s investment.
Onana may offer totally different qualities to that of the former forward, but he can still have a similar sort of impact by arriving in Manchester.