Manchester United legends Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt both agree on the Arsenal star they would love their old club to sign if money were no object.
The Red Devils are in the midst of another under-par season during which they have struggled for consistency under the management of Ruben Amorim.
While there have been unmistakable signs of progress, United’s squad remains ill-equipped to mount a sustained challenge for a top four spot, let alone a title challenge.
United invested heavily over the summer strengthening their forward line with the likes of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko costing a combined total of nearly £200million.
The new recruits have all shown a measure of promise but United’s midfield, in particular, remains a work in progress.
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Manuel Ugarte has struggled to convince he is cut out for the Premier League following his move last January from PSG, while Kobbie Mainoo has been on the fringes over the course of the last couple of months.
Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes remain United’s first choice pairing but their long-term futures are both matters of increasing speculation.
Which midfielder should Man Utd sign?
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Elliot Anderson
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Adam Wharton Adam Warton
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Carlos Baleba
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Alex Scott
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Other
United skipper Fernandes, who suffered an untimely injury against Aston Villa last weekend, spoke recently about the club’s desire to offload him last summer, while Casemiro is out of contract in the summer and likely to be released.
Jason Wilcox, United’s director of football, has four names on his wish list with Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton and Alex Scott all candidates to bolster United’s engine room.
The Red Devils would have found the answer to their midfield woes had they managed to compete for the signing of Declan Rice in the summer of 2023 but the England star ultimately opted to join Arsenal.
Rice has since matured into one of the most complete midfielders in world football and was praised again by his former manager, David Moyes, in the wake of the Gunners’ 1-0 win at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday.
And, asked for his dream signing, Scholes admitted a player of Rice’s ilk is exactly what his old side neeed.
He told The Good The Bad and The Football podcast: ‘Not a dream, but something I think they need is probably a Declan Rice type.’
Nodding in agreement, Butt added:’ That’s what I was going to say, Declan Rice.’
Pressed for a more realistic signing, Scholes suggested Bournemouth’s in-demand winger Antoine Semenyo would fit the bill.
He said: ‘I’d say Semenyo. Although, where does he play for Man Utd? As a wing-back? He’s more of an attacking player I just don’t see where he fits into that with Mbeuomo, Cunha, Diallo, Sesko.
‘I think it’s more doable (for United). A lot of people have talked about him going to City I don’t see him as a City player, I just don’t.
‘I think Liverpool might come for him with those injuries.’
Butt, meanwhile, suggested Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, who turned in a matchwinning performance against United just three days ago, should be the player United look to add to their midfield.
He said: ‘Realistic one if Man United go back to bullying teams and buying their best players. I don’t mean Arsenal or City but those next ones down which we always used to do, they used to go to Tottenham and get their best player, Morgan Rogers go and get him. Play him wherever, he’s better than what we’ve got at the moment .’
Reacting to Butt’s suggestion, Scholes added: ‘Nicky’s got a good point. We got Dwight Yorke, the best player from Aston Villa, Teddy Sherringham, Robin van Persie from Arsenal.
‘We used to go and get their best players. I’m not sure we’re in that position at the minute.’
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