Manchester United have been left unhappy with the way Chelsea have dealt with transfer negotiations over Mason Mount.
Reports on Saturday evening suggested they have now switched attention to other targets after seeing a third bid worth £55m rejected. Brighton star Moises Caicedo was touted as one name among these options.
The Seagulls are expecting the Ecuador star to leave this summer, having already seen Alexis Mac Allister move to Liverpool. Speaking last month, Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi said of the pair: "I am really sorry for them if they will leave but they deserve to play in another level.”
Erik ten Hag is looking for a midfielder as well as a striker and goalkeeper this summer. Mount seemed the most likely to be the first United signing of 2023 but Caicedo would not be a bad alternative. His ability to play as a central midfielder in addition to his natural pivot role would make the Reds versatile in the centre of the park.
ALSO READ: United list two players as must-sells this summer
Casemiro - Caiceco - Fernandes (4-2-1-3 formation)
Should United wish to be more astute defensively, then United could play Caicedo next to Casemiro, which would give Fernandes freedom to roam ahead. It would also mean if either Casemiro or Caicedo ventured forward, United would be better covered for a counter-attack.
United will want to ideally bring in another centre-half to bolster the back-up to Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane. Using both Casemiro and Caicedo would provide the centre-backs with more protection should United need to rotate amid a failure to bring in a new defender.
Caicedo - Eriksen - Fernandes (4-2-1-3)
Caicedo would be an excellent replacement for Casemiro should the Brazilian be unavailable. The 31-year-old missed eight games through suspension last season as United suffered as a result. Caicedo would offer more peace of mind for Ten Hag with Christian Eriksen brilliant going forward but less stable going the other way. This formation would also offer the option of switching to a 4-1-2-3 formation should the Reds need to push for a goal.
Casemiro - Caicedo - Eriksen - (4-3-3)
If Fernandes was needed on the flank, then Caicedo could act as part of a flat middle-three to keep the team balanced. Eriksen is the one most likely to venture forward out of the three, leaving Casemiro and Caicedo to fill the midfield. If either of those two were also to have a foray up the pitch, then it would be Casemiro. He recorded seven goals and six assists this season, while Caicedo - who also played three matches at right-back - scored just once and assisted once.
