United View: What could United’s midfield next season look like?

Erik Ten Hag wants to improve his midfield for next season after it was clear he needs more depth and quality.

The rumour mill is in full force once again, but I’ve tried to cover the most feasible options and look at what they could bring to Old Trafford.

Manchester United have been trying to lure away Mason Mount from Chelsea but had a third bid rejected. The offer of around £55 million wasn’t enough to persuade Chelsea despite the English midfielder only having one year left on his contract.

Mount has made it clear he won’t be signing a new deal and Ten Hag hopes he will push for a move to Old Trafford in hopes of upgrading his midfield. But why is the manager so adamant about signing Mason Mount?

Well while he may have struggled last season, he’s been a favourite amongst many of the managers he’s played under. Not only for his goal contributions but for his work off the ball. In addition, he’s versatile and is able to play on the left, right or in the centre.

Mount’s best return in a Chelsea shirt came in the 2021/22 season, netting 11 goals and 10 assists in the Premier League. However, he also offers defensive cover, helping stop opposition moves and springing midfield traps to win possession.

He’s a pest in the middle of the park and may be seen as a younger upgrade to Christian Eriksen. Although he doesn’t quite have the same passing ability as the Dane, he has shown he can create chances and switch play effectively.

Another option could be in the form of Brighton’s Moises Caicedo, although he’s a different profile of player to Mason Mount, he would undoubtedly improve United’s midfield.

The Ecuadorian was rumoured to move to Old Trafford before signing for Brighton and could now cost around £80 million. Since his move to the Seagulls, he’s gone on to be one of the most sought-after midfielders in the league.

Caicedo is somewhat of an all-rounder in midfield and could be an excellent pairing with Casemiro. Like the Brazilian, he’s very physical and also possesses the technical ability to advance the play.

He’s been key to Brighton’s best-ever finish as a football club. Allowing them to build up with high-risk football. And rarely loses the ball but also has the physical attributes to recover and help his team if needed.

As he’s already tactically familiar with his role from his time with Roberto De Zerbi, Caicedo could come in and adapt easily to Ten Hag’s style of play. However, there is also interest from Arsenal and Chelsea.

Then there is talk of Adrien Rabiot potentially signing for United on a free transfer. Even though United were also interested last year for the Frenchman it’s also likely he could snub Old Trafford once again and sign a contract extension at Juventus.

The failure to acquire Rabiot last summer eventually led to United signing Casemiro from Real Madrid, so hopefully something similar can happen this summer too. We may as well give Frenkie De Jong’s agents a call again if we're doing a repeat of last year.

Although admittedly I can’t say I have complete confidence in United’s recruitment team as there hasn’t seemed to be a plan in place for several years now. And the Reds are slow off the mark in getting deals done again.

One thing is clear, United need to strengthen their midfield next season. Whether it be Mount, Caicedo or whoever, Ten Hag needs someone with first-team quality.

And preferably sooner rather than later too as there are other pressing issues that need addressing including a striker and goalkeeper. It’s going to be another long summer as a United fan, isn’t it?