Why £80m Man Utd target could be the new Paul Pogba under Carrick

There are very few players who have divided the opinion of the Manchester United fanbase – but none quite as much as former midfielder Paul Pogba.

The Frenchman joined for a club-record £89m fee back in the summer of 2016, looking to lead the Red Devils to Premier League success during his second spell at Old Trafford.

There’s no denying he was a hugely talented player – as seen by his tally of 30 goals and 51 assists, often popping up with crucial moments within the final third.

However, he was consistently criticised for his work rate and defensive performances, with Graeme Souness often being the pundit to call the player out for his struggles.

Why Pogba still being United’s record signing is an issue

As previously mentioned, the £89m fee paid for Pogba’s signature still remains United’s record – but why is that starting to become a concern for the club?

Well, Premier League rivals Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and even Tottenham Hotspur have signed players for over £100m – showcasing their ambitions of landing world-class talent.

This summer alone, City and Spurs have signed talents for over that fee, completing moves for Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali from Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United, respectively.

Michael Carrick’s men were interested in moves for both of the aforementioned duo, but subsequently missed out on their signatures after being reluctant to splash the cash.

INEOS have no doubt invested well over the last 12 months, but their hesitation in the market and refusal to spend over £100m on a player could see them fall behind other clubs around them.

As a result, the likes of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans have arrived at Old Trafford this window instead – with the pair costing a reported £85m combined.

Undoubtedly, shrewd business is there to be done in the market, but sometimes serious cash has to be spent to land the calibre of player needed for success in the Premier League.

How Carrick can secure United’s next Pogba this summer

Despite already securing the signings of two separate midfielders this summer, it’s no secret United are on the hunt for a third talent to complete the midfield overhaul.

However, INEOS have made the signing of a deep-lying ball-winner a priority, leading to countless rumours over who could be the selected transfer target they pursue.

Manu Kone and Carlos Baleba have both been constantly mentioned, but the hierarchy could now turn their attention back to Real Madrid star Aurélien Tchouaméni.

It’s been reported by journalist Samuel Luckhurst that the Red Devils have once again enquired about the availability of the Frenchman, who has two years left on his current deal.

They claim the Spanish giants are now willing to offload the 26-year-old despite reports around a new contract at the Bernabeu – but could demand as much as £80m if they are to sell him.

Such a deal would be one of the biggest in the club’s history, but it would see Carrick’s men land the perfect option and would end their ongoing transfer hunt.

He would emulate Pogba in arriving for a huge sum, whilst having the top-level quality to make the desired impact at the heart of the Red Devils side – whether that be in attacking or defensive areas.

His stats from his recent campaign in Spain highlight why he’s the perfect addition for United, subsequently possessing all of the key qualities needed in a deep-lying option.

Tchouameni won a staggering 68% of the ground duels he entered in LaLiga last term – subsequently ranking him in the top 2% of midfielders across Europe’s top-five leagues.

He also made 1.6 interceptions per 90 and was only dribbled past on 0.5 occasions per game – once again placing him in the top 10% of players in his position across the continent.

All of the aforementioned figures highlight his remarkable ability without the ball – showcasing why he’s the perfect player for United this summer.

In possession, he’s demonstrated a similar level of quality to Pogba, as he completed 92% of the passes he attempted last term – a figure in the top 8% of players in LaLiga.

Tchouameni’s ability to score from range has also been evident in recent times, subsequently scoring twice in his 55 appearances across all competitions last season.

£80m would be a mammoth deal for United, but it’s one that would inject the needed quality within Carrick’s side to mount a charge for the Premier League title.

Should he get anywhere near the levels of his compatriot at Old Trafford, the deal would be a bargain and one which could go down as one of their best of all-time.