Erik ten Hag is reportedly gearing up for his first transfer battle with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola after identifying a £75millon valued 'leader'.
The Dutchman will take over as Manchester United 's next permanent manager from the end of the season. He is expected to bring about a major squad overhaul following a dreadful campaign which has left United without a Champions League place for next year.
One of the main areas that needs a rapid rebuild is in midfield, with the Red Devils' options in that position proven to be lightweight. Nemanja Matic will leave at the end of his contract this summer, while neither Fred nor Scott McTominay have convinced this campaign.
While he still has three games left in charge of Ajax, Ten Hag has already turned his attention to how to solve that midfield issue. According to the Daily Star, one of the players he has his eye on his Southampton star James Ward-Prowse.
The Englishman is said to be one of two central midfielders on United's shopping list, having impressed with his consistent all-action displays for the Saints. His contract at St Mary's Stadium still has four years left to run, though it is stated he could opt to depart earlier in a bid to boost his 'ambitions' of playing for England.
They are facing competition from Manchester City though, with Guardiola described as being a 'huge admirer'. The Spaniard has also described Ward-Prowse as the world's best dead-ball specialist, with the midfielder's deadliness from free-kicks well known.
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"He is so good that maybe you miss a little bit of the footballer player. He is a team player of great quality, without the ball and with the ball. He really understands the game but it is his free-kicks, set-pieces, and corners that people pay more attention to," Guardiola said of Ward-Prowse in January.
According to The Sun, Guardiola is eyeing Ward-Prowse as a potential replacement for the soon-to-depart Fernandinho. In a boost to United though, it is stated that there is no 'guarantee' he will be given regular first-team action at City.
That news will surely delight Ten Hag, who is said to want Ward-Prowse to 'boss' his midfield at Old Trafford. With the other leading midfield target, Declan Rice set to cost an astonishingly high fee, Ten Hag has been given the go-ahead to make his move for the Southampton man.
With Ward-Prowse currently earning in the region of £100,000 a week, his salary demands are unlikely to prove to be a stumbling block to a deal. The newspaper adds that Ten Hag will be given a £100m transfer kitty for his summer business.
While Ward-Prowse is expected to cost 'half the price' of Rice, City's interest could spark an almighty wrestling match between the two rivals. That could see Ten Hag forced to part with £75m in order to secure Ward-Prowse, who would be one of his first signings as United boss.
