Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel wants the club to sign Granit Xhaka.
This summer Manchester United will look to rebuild the midfield, and many fans are forecasting potential dream signings.
Former Red Devils star Peter Schmeichel is urging a more pragmatic solution.
Schmeichel has told The Good, The Bad & The Football that United should be trying to sign experienced midfielder Granit Xhaka.
Peter Schmeichel wants United to sign Granit Xhaka… what do you think about this?
Peter Schmeichel on Granit Xhaka
Peter Schmeichel believes Kobbie Mainoo will need experienced help alongside him in Manchester United’s midfield.
It’s a combination that has worked recently, with Mainoo partnering Casemiro. But the Brazilian is now set to depart United this summer.
Schmeichel says: “I think we should go and sign Xhaka.
“I make my case, what we are going to do is build the team around Kobbie, right. Now Casemiro is leaving. Now you bring in somebody like Wharton, Anderson whatever… that’s still young, that’s still untried.
“What we need and what we don’t really have apart from Harry and Bruno in that team is proper leadership.
“When I look at what Xhaka’s done for Sunderland, Xhaka is the reason they are where they are.
“He has been absolutely amazing, his leadership qualities are great, he can play 80 per cent of the games, he’s a really good player.
“We’re desperate for more leadership.”
Former teammate Nicky Butt was intrigued by the idea, responding: “Xhaka would come in and go I’m not playing every game, but he would bring a lot to the squad.”
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United set to face Xhaka
Granit Xhaka will actually face Manchester United next week, when Manchester United visit Sunderland.
The Swiss midfielder is 33, turning 34 in September. This season Xhaka has started 29 Premier League games for the Black Cats.
There’s an argument that Xhaka would have been an astute signing for United last summer, a more valuable contributor than Manuel Ugarte has proved this season.
The former Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen midfielder will play at the World Cup this summer.
Sunderland would be reluctant to sell, but they would also be foolish to turn down a decent transfer fee for a player of Xhaka’s age.
Whether there is any appetite on United’s part is unclear. Xhaka does have Premier League experience, but the Red Devils are expected to target younger faces – despite Schmeichel’s appeal for know-how.
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