Manchester United’s new coach Erik ten Hag reportedly wants the club to target Chelsea superstar N’Golo Kante as part of his midfield overhaul.
A recent report from Daily Mirror has shed some light on Manchester United’s summer plans, with their new coach Erik ten Hag pushing for a major rebuild in the midfield department. The Dutchman has already demanded the board sign a few top players at the end of the season, including N’Golo Kante.
With Nemanja Matic confirming his exit at the end of the season and Paul Pogba running out of contract in the summer, Manchester United are expecting a major change in their midfield unit. Their coach Erik ten Hag is expected to rebuild the midfield with young players, but he needs a seasoned superstar to guide them through.
Kante fits the bill well as the Frenchman has extensive experience at the highest level of football, having featured in over 200 Premier League matches. With no less than two league titles, a UEFA Champions League and a FIFA World Cup, the Chelsea midfielder also brings the winning mentality to the table.
In addition to his experience, ten Hag rates Kante highly due to his combative abilities in the middle of the park. The Chelsea midfielder is a real ball-winner and can startle the opposition ball-carriers with his work ethic and aggression. He can thus add a new dimension to Manchester United’s second line of press that has looked disjointed under Ralf Rangnick.
Ideally, Kante would occupy the number six role in ten Hag’s tactical setup, with the Dutchman hoping to further incorporate Barcelona superstar Frenkie de Jong to rejuvenate the Manchester United midfield.
Although Kante plies his trade with Manchester United’s league rivals Chelsea, ten Hag believes the midfielder is an attainable target knowing the Blues are bracing themselves for a major overhaul, as Thomas Tuchel looks to build his team around younger individuals.
The Chelsea boss has already targeted a move for Ibrahim Sangare, who has been likely identified as a replacement for Kante if he joins Manchester United. Chelsea might also want to offload the Frenchman, knowing his current contract expires in 2023.
However, Manchester United are facing stiff competition from other clubs in the pursuit of Kante. Barcelona have been mooted as a potential destination for the former Leicester City starlet, although the Catalans are unlikely to make a move for the Chelsea man until the end of next season.
