Legendary goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel urges Manchester United to secure Granit Xhaka’s veteran leadership from Sunderland to provide the perfect midfield platform for rising star Kobbie Mainoo.
Kobbie Mainoo had one of the best weeks yet in his Manchester United career last week.
The young midfielder signed a new five-year contract with his boyhood club in midweek, before then scoring the winning goal and earning the Man of the Match award during a 3-2 win over bitter rivals, Liverpool.
There was a point under Rúben Amorim where it looked as if the midfielder was destined to leave the club due to a lack of game time, but his resurgence under Michael Carrick has been nothing short of magic.
Not only is he back among the very first names on the teamsheet at Old Trafford, but he is also back in the frame with England and in with a shot of flying to the 2026 World Cup.
Schmeichel calls for controversial transfer
While Mainoo had a quiet start to the season, former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka exploded back onto the English scene with his transfer to Sunderland, who had a stunning start to the campaign.
Former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has gone as far to claim that United should look to sign the 33-year-old this season, as his leadership qualities would be the perfect compliment to Mainoo's brilliance.
Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football regarding possible United signings, the former goalkeeper said. “I have one, maybe controversial in thinking, but I think we should go and sign Xhaka. Cheaper.
"I make my case, we are going to build a team around Kobbie. Casemiro is leaving. Bring in Wharton and Anderson or whatever, who are still young. What we don’t have really is proper leadership. When I look and see what Xhaka has done at Sunderland, he is the reason why they are absolutely amazing.
“His leadership qualities are great, he can play 80 per cent of the games, and he is a very good player. I know he can do it. If he does one or two years, we need leadership."
Should United go for Xhaka over Tonali?
It is well known that United want to go for players who have experience in the Premier League, and Xhaka is one of those. Another who has been closely linked to the Reds is Newcastle's Sandro Tonali, although Schmeichel is hesitant regarding the Itlain.
"I know Tonali is mentioned, but has he done enough at Newcastle to warrant that... I think Xhaka would bring a lot to the dressing room and have power around the person, which is rare. We’re desperate for more leadership," the Dane continued.
“Harry Maguire is a fantastic leader. I do think he is. I think Bruno is. He's a leader in his own way, but he's a leader, and he leads a lot by how he plays. But then I look at the rest of the squad, you know, they're followers.
"We've been in squads where everyone was leading. We know the value of having those players in there because on a Sunday or a Tuesday night, I always said, a Tuesday night where everything is going against you.
“You need somebody who can pull you out by the hair, the short hairs, and get you playing or find that little bit to bring you up. And that value of having that … and I've been thinking about this for a while. I think that would be a really good thing. I want somebody like that.”