Manchester United are exploring the midfield market ahead of their return to the Champions League next season.
Manchester United have been linked to several midfielders this summer, with the club reportedly looking to sign three new players for the engine room after Casemiro left the club at the end of the season.
Elliot Anderson appeared to be the top target at the start of the window, but the Nottingham Forest midfielder chose to move to Manchester City for a deal worth well over £110 million.
Then came West Ham United's Mateus Fernandes. Reports stated that United were confident of signing him and that he wanted to move to Old Trafford, but he has since moved to Tottenham Hotspur, as has Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali.
Éderson looks set to be one of the midfielders to join United, while fellow Brazilian Andrey Santos could also follow him.
However, with Manuel Ugarte's ACL injury likely to leave him out for most of the season, United could be looking to add another midfielder to the ranks to boost Michael Carrick's hopes of a Champions League run.
United add Kone to shortlist
With United seemingly set on two of their midfielders, they now need to focus on who will be the third to move to Old Trafford.
Aurélien Tchouaméni could have been the target, but he looks set to sign a new contract to remain at Real Madrid. However, his international teammate, Manu Kone, could be a target.
TeamTALK have reported that United have added Kone to their shortlist after being informed that the Frenchman would like to test himself in the Premier League.
AS Roma are willing to sell him for the right price, which could be £50 million - a similar fee to what Andrey Santos looks set to move from Chelsea.
Intermediaries have spoken to United, but Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City have also been contacted.
United may have to act quickly to secure their man.
Kone addition points to new plan
Many fans thought that United would be looking for a direct replacement for Casemiro when the Brazilian confirmed he would leave the club earlier last season, but that does not seem to be the case. At least, not anymore.
Unlike Tchouaméni and Baleba, Éderson and Santos are both box-to-box players who can play in several roles in central midfield. They can balance both defence and attack well. Kone is another profile like that.
Perhaps United's new plan is to build a more balanced midfield. Instead of having one out-and-out defensive midfielder, paired with a playmaker or box-to-box player, they will have two players who can perform both roles admirably. One will push forward for an attack, and one will sit back.
Like the Sir Alex Ferguson teams of old, you could say.
Kobbie Mainoo massively improved his out-of-possession skill set when he came back into the team last season, showing he can be a good ball-winner. This adds to his already impressive on-the-ball skills, which set him apart from most other young midfielders in the Premier League.
A midfield pivot of Mainoo and Éderson or Santos - or even Kone - could be Michael Carrick's favoured option. Or it could be the option he has been forced into. Time will tell.
