Ratcliffe keen on ‘fantastic’ midfielder, 13 years after Sir Alex Ferguson wanted him

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Manchester United are now believed to be interested in signing Luton Town midfielder Ross Barkley this summer.

We may only be in February but the rumour mill for the summer transfer window is already churning.

United’s 2-1 home defeat to Fulham on Saturday was always likely to lead to a rumour or two but Ross Barkley surely wasn’t a name many expected to hear.

The Sun now claim that United are interested in snapping up the Luton Town midfielder at the end of the season.

Barkley has been in great form of late and has been hailed as ‘fantastic’ by Cesc Fabregas, but few could have predicted United rumours.

Ross Barkley wanted by Ratcliffe and Brailsford

The key to the interest appears to be Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford.

United’s new men are thought to be huge fans of Barkley having brought him to Nice in 2022.

Barkley managed four goals in 28 games for the French side before heading to Luton, where he has now bagged three goals and three assists.

Luton have refused to reveal the length of Barkley’s contract and United may be trying to figure out if the 30-year-old can leave for free this summer.

Barkley has got his career back on track at Kenilworth Road but whether he really makes an impact in this United squad is up for debate.

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Sir Alex Ferguson wanted Barkley at United

If Ratcliffe and Brailsford do move to sign Barkley, it would see them go for a player Sir Alex Ferguson wanted more than a decade ago.

The Express reported way back in 2011 that Ferguson wanted to lure Barkley from Everton to United, just like Wayne Rooney.

Barkley was touted as a wonderkid at the time, not too dissimilar to Rooney, but he sadly lost his way – especially at Chelsea.

Maybe Barkley’s career would have been different with some time developing under Ferguson, but United now appear to be keen some 13 years on.

We would still be surprised to see this move go through but Ratcliffe and Brailsford may well rate Barkley so highly that they back him to shine at Old Trafford.