The two players Erik ten Hag appears most interested in bringing to Manchester United this summer are a new number nine and a central midfielder. The Dutchman is reportedly looking to enhance his team’s midfield in preparation for the upcoming season.

Manchester Evening News reported early this season that the Red Devils were considering making a fresh move for Borussia Dortmund prodigy Jude Bellingham, who had previously turned down United’s efforts back in 2020, as they looked to bolster their midfield.

Following the news that Real Madrid and the Bundesliga club have agreed to a €100 million (£86 million) transfer for the 19-year-old, any potential move for the player now seems almost impossible. The former Birmingham City player looks almost certain to be playing in the Spanish capital next season.

It is clearly a setback for the Old Trafford team to have missed out on a player who is “going to be the best midfielder in the world,” according to Three Lions teammate Phil Foden. Ten Hag will need to find another midfield answer in the upcoming weeks and months.

However, the 53-year-old may already have the ideal replacement for the Dortmund star in Leon Goretzka, with the Carabao Cup winners reportedly interested in the Bayern Munich star, according to reports in his native Germany.

Goretzka should Man United acquire?

Given that Bellingham and the £301k per week maestro are claimed to have a number of statistical and stylistic parallels, Ten Hag may be able to find his own Bellingham with the maestro’s help.

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This resemblance between the 6 foot 2 German and his 6 foot 1 English counterpart is not merely a result of their physical similarity; the two are also equally adept at making a difference at both ends of the pitch.

The defensive prowess of the pair is demonstrated by the fact that Bellingham ranks in the top 7% and Goretzka is in the top 3% among players in his position in the top five leagues in Europe for blocks made.

Both players have a strong desire to attack and participate in the final third. Goretzka has averaged 2.2 touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 over the past 365 days, whereas Bellingham has only marginally more touches with an average of 3.6 touches per 90.

The Bayern star is also something of an all-action hero in his own right, with previous manager Julian Nagelsmann identifying him as “one of the best box-to-box players in Europe,” with the latter player being a player who can “do absolutely everything,” according to United icon Gary Neville.

Nagelsmann described the former Schalke player as possessing a “incredible goal threat” as he amassed 34 goals and 35 assists in 179 games for the Bavarian giants, much like Bellingham, who has 24 goals and 25 assists to his name in 132 games for his present team.

In contrast to the teenager Bellingham, the Bochum native is less of a long-term option now that he is 28 years old, but given that he shares many of the same qualities as the superstar headed to Madrid, he ought to be the ideal choice for Ten Hag at the Theatre of Dreams.