Manchester United want to attract Chelsea midfielder Ngolo Kante, according to a report by The Mirror.
Cante is seen by United as a potential partner of Frankie de Jong from Barcelona, not as an alternative.
The Guardian De Jong report is a target for United, with Barcelona considering whether to make money given their financial constraints.
The case of United signing De Jong is unclear. One of the reasons against this move is the fact that a defensive midfielder will still be required.
If United are ready to invest in two big midfielders this summer, then it can work. Kante and De Jong could be a future partnership for United.
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Manchester United want to attract Ngolo Kante
There are several questions about United’s potential move for Kante, a player considered one of the best defensive midfielders of his generation.
Why will Chelsea sell Kante? Chelsea will have new owners this summer and large investments are expected. New additions to the midfield could make it redundant.
This season, Kante has started only 19 games in the league for Chelsea and he has only one year left from his current contract.
Would United sign Kante too late? This is a real risk. Even when Manchester United signed with Nemanja Matic, he was 28 and felt drawn too late.
Kante may have a good job, even a great job for a few years, but he is not exactly a long-term answer for the club.
On the other hand, even this version of Kante is still a major upgrade of Manchester United’s current defensive midfield options.
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How much would Kante cost? Chelsea paid a bargain price of £ 32 million to attract Cante from Leicester and he was worth every penny for them.
But with the expiration of his contract in 2023, United may be able to take Kante for less than the fee they paid, maybe even around £ 25 million.
Combine that with De Jong, which will cost around £ 60 million, and United can fix the midfield for around £ 80-85 million.
This will provide a solid new platform for the new look of Eric ten Haag, but this drastic update may mean that other parts of the side will get more economical solutions.
United want to add a new striker, a new defender, and also add new full-backs. If so much money is spent in the midfield, then there may not be as much for other areas.
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