Frank Leboeuf has urged Manchester United to raid Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain after agreeing a £35 million deal for Brazilian midfielder Ederson. The Red Devils are set to make Ederson their first signing under manager Michael Carrick, having reached an agreement with Serie A side Atalanta.
Midfield overhaul at Old Trafford
Ederson will be the first of up to three midfield arrivals this summer as United compensate for the departures of Casemiro and possibly Manuel Ugarte. The club have expressed interest in several midfielders, including Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton, and Sandro Tonali.
Leboeuf recommends Zaire-Emery
However, Leboeuf has recommended another midfielder to the Red Devils, insisting that PSG's Warren Zaire-Emery would be a 'great signing' for Carrick. The France international, 20, made 54 appearances for PSG last season as Luis Enrique's side won both the French league title and the Champions League.
'I think that would be a great signing for Manchester United, but he will need players around him to succeed,' French World Cup winner Leboeuf told CSB. 'I'm very fond of Michael Carrick and the job he did for Manchester United, and he was playing in the position of Zaire-Emery. So I'm pretty sure he would give him great advice to improve. It could be a great move for him.'
'Zaire-Emery is a warrior. He's going to sacrifice himself for the team he plays for. That's for sure. Will he be ready? I'm not sure yet. He had a strange season. He finished it well, but he struggled for the first six months. That's why he didn't play most games. Maybe because he was wondering if he should stay or not,' Leboeuf added.
Saha: Zaire-Emery is my dream signing
Ex-Manchester United striker Louis Saha has also talked up a move for Zaire-Emery, describing him as his 'dream signing'. 'I would say without any hesitation, any club in the world, from any country, would love to have Warren Zaire-Emery in their side because he's an unbelievable player,' Saha told Compare Bet.
'Yes, maybe because of his youth, sometimes he might be picked after Fabian Ruiz or Vitinha and Joao Neves, but that's because those three are extremely powerful and complete. Zaire-Emery is still learning and he can play in midfield, at right-back and at right midfield. He is someone who can adapt, he is very intelligent, very committed, very focused.'
'Any manager in the world will love to have him at their club because he will perform in nine out of ten games. He will never complain, he will work hard, and he will entertain you as well. I'm a big fan. He just appeared on the scene very young and was questioned, he has been proving people wrong ever since.'
'He would be my dream signing for Manchester United in so many ways. In terms of quality in that midfield, he could fit in alongside Kobbie Mainoo, he can run with the ball and pass in tight positions. He definitely has an enormous future ahead of him, and if United can manage to sign him, it's a different calibre. I won't be surprised to see any big team sign him like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, or whoever,' Saha added.
United's transfer plans
As well as signing at least one more midfielder, Manchester United are also in the market for a new versatile attacker and a left-back. Ugarte, Joshua Zirkzee, and Andre Onana are three of the current Old Trafford players who are likely to leave in Carrick's first transfer window in charge. Manchester United were heading for another underwhelming season under Ruben Amorim but climbed to third in the Premier League and qualified for the Champions League once Carrick took over.
