Manchester United should not ignore the midfield area any longer. The team needs additions in this area right away, with probably more than one player required, considering Paul Pogba’s uncertain future.
One player linked by The Mirror is Swiss ace Denis Zakaria, who is the Bundesliga’s fastest midfielder this season.
While United are yet to make an offer, there are still three weeks remaining of the transfer window, and then in summer he will become a free agent.
Rangnick has inside track
Fabrizio Romano reports there is an open race to sign Zakaria, adding that ‘the option has been discussed’ as interim boss Ralf Rangnick likes him.
Rangnick knows him well from his time managing and overseeing RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, but his connection to the midfielder goes back a lot further.
Zakaria’s current manager at Borussia Moenchengladbach is Adi Hutter, a coach who was brought through and given a chance by Ralf Rangnick.
Hutter began his coaching career with Red Bull Salzburg’s academy, before being appointed as permanent head coach in 2014.
Hutter went onto coach Young Boys and Eintracht Frankfurt, before taking over at Borussia Moenchengladbach last summer as Marco Rose’s replacement.
At ‘Gladbach, Zakaria is learning under a coach who shares similar beliefs to Rangnick, with a desire to play attacking football and a demand on his midfielders to be energetic and cover a lot of ground.
Rangnick could have an inside track on Zakaria due to the Hutter connection if United do make a move this month, and the similar background shared by the coaches would reassure the Swiss midfielder about a potential switch as a free agent, with the German retaining a consultancy role beyond this season.
While United’s next boss is uncertain, Rangnick is expected to appoint one who shares his philosophy of a high-pressing game.
Little to lose
With Zakaria a free agent in the summer, United really have little to lose by making a cut-price move for this this month, considering the need for reinforcements.
Zakaria is a player who was touted at £45 million in a report from The Express just two seasons ago.
At 25, the midfielder’s best years are ahead of him, and plenty of money will remain for United to further strengthen the midfielder with a more expensive addition too.
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