Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, will already be focused on the club’s prospective transfer deals this summer. This is because the Red Devils will likely need more recruits if they are to improve next season, even though the FA Cup final is still the weekend after this one.

A new center-forward and midfielder are reportedly among the Dutch manager’s top goals, according to the Manchester Evening News. The former Ajax manager claimed that United need “better players” if they are to contend for big awards in the future following the midweek victory over Chelsea.

Regarding the latter position, Tyler Adams of Leeds United is one candidate that the Old Trafford team is rumoured to be examining. According to Football Insider, the Carabao Cup winners are ‘keeping tabs’ on the American international.

According to the report, the management at Elland Road is worried that the 24-year-old would depart the team this summer if the Yorkshire team gets relegated, with Ten Hag and company prepared to pounce to negotiate a deal for almost £35 million.

The £20 million signing had previously been “instrumental” for the Whites, according to commentator Kevin Campbell. However, the former RB Leipzig player, who only moved to England last summer, has been sidelined with an injury in recent weeks as his side has struggled to avoid the drop.

Following in the footsteps of players like Rio Ferdinand and Alan Smith, the promising “tackling machine”—as Campbell praised him—would not be the first to make the contentious switch from Leeds to the Theatre of Dreams.

However, the icon of Manchester United, Eric Cantona, is another person who made the transition, and the 5 foot 9 ace will undoubtedly be especially eager to try and imitate his influence.

How effective was Cantona at Manchester United?

Although it may seem as though the legendary Frenchman doesn’t need an introduction, Red Devils supporters will probably never get tired of hearing the story of how they were able to get the legendary forward from their fierce rivals at a bargain.

Prior to the Premier League’s inception in 1992, champions Leeds had inquired about the possibility of signing Old Trafford full-back Denis Irwin, though chairman Martin Edwards ultimately shifted his focus to talk about a potential deal to acquire Cantona instead.

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As it turned out, Irwin not only stayed put, but Edwards and company were also able to sign the legendary forward for a meagre fee of just £1 million, with that purchase turning out to be a great steal given the striker’s tremendous impact over the following years.

Under manager Alex Ferguson, the former Marseille player went on to win four league championships over the course of the following five seasons, scoring 126 goals and dishing out 156 assists, solidifying his status as a true cult icon.

Ferguson earlier remarked that the influential “Messiah” simply “transformed” United after he arrived; it is hoped that Adams can attempt to imitate even a little portion of his outstanding impact.

The Red Devils’ acquisition of the American could, like with the enigmatic marksman, turn out to be a true masterclass.