Manchester United have reportedly identified a highly rated young French midfielder as a potential transfer target ahead of the summer transfer window.
Manchester United are now ramping up their preparations ahead of the summer transfer window.
While reinforcements down the flanks and in central defence are said to be on the agenda, the midfield will be the club's main priority.
With Casemiro's four-year stay at Old Trafford set to come to an end and Manuel Ugarte also likely to depart, United will likely sign at least two, potentially even three, new midfielders this summer.
Elliot Anderson is at the very top of United's shortlist, but Manchester City are said to be leading the race for the England international.
United explored a deal to sign Carlos Baleba last summer, and interest from Old Trafford in the Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder remains strong, with the Reds said to value the Cameroonian midfielder at around £50 million.
Aurélien Tchouaméni is also high on United's list, with reports claiming that he could be attainable for a fee in the region of £70 million. Various other reports claim, however, that the France international will extend his contract at the Bernabéu.
United interested in Bouaddi
Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi is another name said to be of interest to United.
According to Abdellah Boulma, United have ramped up efforts to meet with his entourage, even going so far as to consider enlisting Sir Alex Ferguson to win him over.
Boulma reports that Arsenal and Bayern Munich are both also interested in the 18 year-old midfielder.
Paris Saint-Germain are also pushing to sign him, Boulma reports. The European champions' interest in Bouaddi has intensified in recent weeks, and they have even presented their sporting project to him.
United need a pass-first midfielder
A lot of the midfielders United have been linked to are all-action box-to-box midfielders who are good under pressure and like to carry forward.
While this isn't an issue, United must sign a midfielder this summer who can sit deep, dictate the play and progress the ball forward through passing.
Kobbie Mainoo is an excellent ball-carrier who has shown in the past that he can get forward and score goals. His finishing from the left-half space is exceptional, as seen by his goals against Liverpool and Lyon in recent seasons.
By signing a no.6 who can sit deep, it would allow Mainoo the freedom to get forward into more advanced areas where he can really show his quality in the final third. Casemiro has scored a lot of goals this season, and Mainoo has the quality to replace that output if given license to get forward.
It is also critical that United sign a midfielder who is aerially dominant, as this is something United will really miss with Casemiro leaving.