An ESPN report circulated this week naming several previously reported Manchester United transfer targets.
James Maddison, Jack Grealish, Declan Rice and Sean Longstaff share one common trait – their English passport.
A great fit for United along these lines would be Norwich City’s Todd Cantwell, who has been opening eyes this season. The Mail report United are keen.
Cantwell, 21, is establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s top young talents. More of a winger than a central attacker, he’s a player United are right to be tracking.
He has six goals this season and two assists in 17 games. This compares well to James Maddison’s six goals and three assists in 20 games.
Unlike Maddison who is playing for a team sitting second in the league, Cantwell’s Norwich are in 20th place. That makes his contribution even more impressive.
Looming relegation makes Cantwell primed for a potential move in the summer, while Maddison will be tough to sign if Leicester qualify for the Champions League.
It would be a surprise if he cost more than £30 million, while Maddison would cost more than double that.
Cantwell’s goals have come in big matches too; he has scored against Chelsea, Manchester City, and Arsenal, Wolves and Everton, before his latest goal against Crystal Palace.
Ideal fit
Cantwell’s six goals are six more than Jesse Lingard has scored this season in the Premier League and the 21-year-old would be an upgrade on the under-performing United star.
He is the epitome of the type of player United are trying to build around; young, talented, and driven to succeed.
A message he sent out at the end of December highlighted his hunger. It’s the type of attitude United need in the squad. A desire to succeed and huge self belief.
As opposed to a potentially past-it player like Christian Eriksen, a move for a young talent like Cantwell fits United’s philosophy a lot more.
United’s team has clear flaws and a lack of options in attack is the biggest.
The Canaries star has played on the left, the right, and through the middle. His versatility could provide a valuable option given that Marcus Rashford has United’s spot on the left sewn up.
On the left, he could give United the option of extra width and enable Rashford and Martial to operate as a front two.
Cantwell is a player worth taking a gamble on. Norwich would be silly to sell mid-season, but for the summer, this could work. He’s a far more exciting prospect than Sean Longstaff.
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