Players Man Utd could hang to as ten Hag seeks Chelsea star transfer option
Manchester United has made it abundantly obvious that Mason Mount is their top priority this summer, but luring him away from Chelsea has proven difficult.
Mount reportedly has his heart fixed on Old Trafford and is not reluctant to join Manchester United. However, those in charge at Stamford Bridge will not budge until United meets their asking price.
The Red Devils have had three proposals for the 24-year-old turned down, with the most recent offer believed to be £50 million plus an additional £5 million in add-ons.
Given that United’s third offer was rejected, there are now rumors that they intend to abandon the agreement entirely. If so, Mirror Football has identified some potential replacements for Erik ten Hag.
Adrien Rabiot
United’s desire for the controversial Frenchman is well-documented, and the club has previously attempted to lure him to Old Trafford.
This time, Rabiot may be even more desirable, as his contract with Juventus has expired, making him a free agent. United could acquire a very talented midfielder without incurring any transfer fees.
Rabiot has been known to be difficult to deal with in the locker room; however, when playing alongside a seasoned veteran like Casemiro, perhaps the France international would be on his best behavior.
Ryan Gravenberch
Gravenberch, while at Ajax, was coveted by virtually every major European football club because he was both young and technically endowed.
He ultimately decided to join Bayern Munich, where things have not precisely gone according to plan. After only one season, Gravenberch has already been linked to a move away from Allianz.
United may have an advantage over some of the other clubs monitoring Gravenberch, including fierce rivals Liverpool, due to the evident Ten Hag connection from their time together at Ajax.
Joao Palhinha
Palhinha currently plays a slightly more defensive role for Fulham, but he has demonstrated he is more than capable of contributing offensively.
Given that Casemiro carries the majority of the defensive burden in the Red Devils’ midfield, this could make him an attractive option for United. Given that the Portugal international only joined Fulham last summer, this move is a little less probable than the other two.
Therefore, his contract at Craven Cottage still has a considerable quantity of time remaining, allowing Fulham to demand a staggering sum before authorizing his departure.
Moises Caicedo
The man nearly everyone desires. The Ecuadorian midfielder has been linked to Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and United, among others.
As things stand, it appears that the Blues are in prime position to secure him, but if United are willing to walk away from the Mount deal, there is no reason to believe that they wouldn’t attempt to hijack any move for Caicedo.
The 21-year-old has excelled for Brighton, who are aware of the high-profile interest in their player and are therefore aware that they can demand a hefty transfer fee.
United could acquire one of the most technically adept midfielders who is capable of exerting influence on both ends of the field if they are prepared to negotiate.
Leon Goretzka
As a result of Bayern Munich’s search for a new central midfielder, Goretzka is rumored to be on the lookout for a new challenge, as his spot in the team is now in jeopardy.
It is unclear how much confidence Bayern manager Thomas Tuchel has in Goretzka, given that his playing time has decreased considerably since Tuchel’s appointment.
United is rumored to have identified this pattern, and Ten Hag is eager to lure the German international to Old Trafford.
Bayern could sell him for less than anticipated in order to make space for an incoming central midfielder.
Players Man Utd could hang to as ten Hag seeks Chelsea star transfer option