Erik ten Hag wants Man Utd to sign 25yo Frenchman to replace Casemiro - report
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has asked the club to sign Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana as a replacement for Casemiro this summer, according to Fichajes.
The Red Devils are likely to recruit a marquee defensive midfielder this summer and this could coincide with a high-profile departure at the end of the campaign.
Sofyan Amrabat is expected to leave when his loan deal concludes. Casemiro could follow him through the exit door with the club’s aim to reduce the wage bill.
The club have already been linked with Amadou Onana and Joao Neves in recent weeks, but Fichajes claim that Ten Hag has asked for Fofana as Casemiro’s replacement.
United are not alone in the pursuit of the Frenchman. Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus have also been linked with the 25-year-old, who could be prised away for €30 million.
Man Utd need to aim higher than Fofana
Fofana has developed into a good holding midfielder during his time at Monaco.
He has won 4.7 duels per league game this term alongside 1.7 tackles. The Frenchman has managed an impressive 7.4 recoveries on average, winning 58 per cent of his take-ons.
Despite the positives, he has struggled with his passing and has an accuracy of only 81 per cent. The former Strasbourg man has been dispossessed on a staggering 15.1 occasions per outing.
Looking at his distribution and average ball control, we don’t see him as an upgrade on Casemiro. He could be a good squad player, but we don’t consider him as a regular starter.
If United are looking for a marquee number six, Benfica’s Neves should be the top priority. At just 19, he has no real weaknesses, but could cost a nine-figure transfer fee this summer.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com & Sofascore.com