Rio Ferdinand has urged Manchester United to make a move for Real Madrid star Aurelien Tchouameni.
The midfielder only joined Madrid last summer from Monaco, in a deal that could evetually be worth as much as £86million. But Los Blancos signed Jude Bellingham this year and have Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga already on their books.
That could lead to Tchouameni becoming a target for certain teams, with United keen to boost their midfield options. And former Red Devils hero Ferdinand believes the Frenchman is just the man United need as Erik ten Hag bids to challenge for trophies.
"You've got Bruno, you've got Eriksen who can play in the 8, Fred and McTominay are the two back-up ones. If we can get a more dynamic 8 who can gets us goals and assists to add to what Bruno is doing," he told Vibe with Five when discussing who United should sign.
"And also to take the ball and dictate a game. Eriksen does the dictating part brilliantly well. Calm, cool under pressure, takes the sting out of games, he's been great I think. But if you want to go another level, you need someone who is better than him.
"That's going to be a big area for the team, it would improve us massively. In midfield, you know who I would go and get? I would go try get Tchouameni. He is the one who doesn’t play, he is the odd man out at the minute. Massive improvement."
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Tchouameni burst onto the scene with Monaco, though Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has enacted a policy of rotation with his midfielders. While he still has five years on his contract, the addition of Bellingham could lead to Los Blancos becoming open to selling him.
While Ferdinand has sent Ten Hag his advice, the Dutchman is unlikely to take the former defender's comments on board. Following the end of the season, the United boss insisted he would shut out all the gossip this summer.
"We have to be quiet, analyse the season, go into depth and then set the right conclusions and take action. Now the season is finished and the conclusion is that we played a brilliant season," Ten Hag said.
"'It is not about the gap in the summer, or getting players in; we have been working all season and we have been working day-by-day to develop and progress the team. I am very proud of where we have came from at the start of the season.
"During the season, we had some bad defeats, City and Liverpool away. We showed today that the win against City at home was not a coincidence. I have only one plan. That is to improve this club and improve this team. I will fight for it, I have my ideas and I have told the club what we have to do for that.
"But I have to work with my staff and my players to be better for next season. We are in the right direction but there are issues in the game that we have to improve if we want to make the next step, to win trophies."
