Ex-player ‘amazed’ Man Utd missed out on €15m midfield solution

A former player has shown his disbelief that Man Utd did not attempt to sign a €15m star to improve their midfield this summer.

The pairing of Fred and Scott McTominay in the centre of the park often gets talked about. The players do a decent job but aren’t seen as being at Champions League-level.

Fred in particular seems to struggle in important games. He often gets pushed off the ball or gives it away in vital situations.

It’s no surprise that club chiefs are looking for potential replacements. West Ham’s Declan Rice is one player being considered.

The Englishman already captains his team, despite being just 22 years old. He regularly drags them up the pitch with his high-energy runs and pressing.

Man Utd would have to part with £100m to land him from West Ham.

Another option is Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham. He is an England team-mate of Rice’s who is lighting up Germany.

More attacking in nature, he has already notched three goals and six assists this campaign.

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Bellingham is valued greatly by his current club, just like Rice. It would a similar fee of around £100m to bring him to Old Trafford.

Former player Walter Sabatini, who now operates as an Italian director of football, reckons the Red Devils should have looked at Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa.

The 25-year-old is on the books at Fulham. However, he joined Napoli on a season-long loan in the summer transfer window.

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Anguissa has impressed in midfield and is now expected to complete a permanent switch. Napoli will pay Fulham just €15m (£12.6m) for his services.

While the 25-year-old is not as big of a name as Rice or Bellingham, he would certainly do a decent job at protecting Man Utd’s back four.

“The Anguissa deal was fantastic,” Sabatini said (via HITC). “I don’t understand how nobody in the Premier League has noticed him. I’m amazed that top English clubs like Man Utd or Chelsea didn’t come in on a Fulham player sooner.”

Man Utd non-starter eager for January exit

Meanwhile, United defender Diogo Dalot reportedly wants to leave the club in January.

The right-back is yet to complete a Premier League match this term. He is having to deputise for first-choice Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Dalot enjoyed a fruitful spell with AC Milan last season. And it looks like he wants to go back to Italy for the second half of the campaign.

Sport Witness, citing reports in Italy, claim that Dalot is eager to get game time elsewhere. That could set up a transfer to Jose Mourinho’s Roma.

The report points to a deal worth just under €10m. It’s claimed that the player would join Roma on an initial loan before penning a long-term contract next summer.

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