While there is still a lot of uncertainty at Manchester United due to the possibility of a change in management, anticipation is undoubtedly already building at the idea of famous players joining Old Trafford this summer.

Due to recent connections to England captain Harry Kane, it would appear that Erik ten Hag and company are interested in bringing in a new center-forward addition. According to Manchester Evening News, the acquisition of a “younger midfielder” is also a top priority.

Christian Eriksen and Casemiro were only recently added to the Red Devils’ midfield roster; however, given that both players turned 31 last month, there may be a need for a new infusion of youth to help balance out such seasoned players.

Kouadio “Manu” Kone, a star player for Borussia Monchengladbach, is one such player who might catch United’s attention before the start of the upcoming season, according to trade guru Fabrizio Romano. Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain are also interested in signing the 21-year-old.

Romano claims that the talented Frenchman might be one of the “big names” available this summer, with the Bundesliga club possibly willing to approve a sale for a sum greater than €50 million (£44 million).

Manu Kone should Man United sign him?

Since moving to Germany ahead of the 2021/22 season, the former Toulouse player has drawn attention, demonstrating that he is a genuinely “monstrous box-to-box midfielder in the making,” in the words of talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Kone has undoubtedly earned the intense interest that is coming his way. Kulig previously referred to Kone as a “one-man army” after Kone’s performance against Bayern Munich back in August. Ten Hag is likely to be closely monitoring the youngster’s rapid development.

The fact that the France U21 international is compared to Brighton and Hove Albion sensation Moises Caicedo stylistically and statistically should allay any concerns about his ability to adjust to life in England.

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The similarities between the two players are most obvious in the fact that Caicedo and Kone both rank in the top 14% of players in their position in Europe’s top five leagues for tackles made, and that Caicedo has been referred to as a “box-to-box midfielder” by Kulig. The two players are also similar in terms of their ball-winning skills.

The Gladbach star’s 136 progressive passes and 38 progressive carries from his 24 league starts this season, as well as Caicedo’s unquestionably comparable record of 148 progressive passes and 21 progressive carries from his 23 league starts, demonstrate the duo’s inventiveness.

Those at the Theatre of Dreams will be particularly interested in the comparison to the Brighton gem because the Colombian dynamo was reportedly a target for United last year after the Red Devils previously missed the chance to sign the playmaker back in 2021. The Brighton gem has been valued at around £80 million amid interest from Arsenal.

While it would now appear to cost a significant sum of money to wrest Caicedo away from the Amex, Ten Hag could find his solution to the thrilling threat by signing a less expensive substitute, such as Kone.

Over the past few years, Robbie has worked as a content and opinion writer in the world of sports media.

Robbie joined the team at Snack Media in the spring of 2022 after graduating in 2020 and working for a number of websites, including 90min and Football Faithful, as a freelancer or intern.

Robbie joined Snack as a member of the company’s academy program and was chosen to join their main website, Football FanCast, as an opinion writer. He later worked his way up the ranks and is now occasionally employed as a sub-editor.

Robbie supports Manchester United, but he also has a soft spot for Wycombe Wanderers and Celtic.