Manchester United may need to rival Chelsea for Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka after Manuel Ugarte suffered a knee ligament injury during the World Cup that is expected to keep him out for most of next season. Michael Carrick is reshaping his midfield and now faces a significant gap in his squad.
Ugarte Injury Forces Rethink
Ugarte could have been sold this summer to fund a third midfield arrival, but that option is now off the table. United are continuing to work on a deal for Mateus Fernandes, but if they reach an agreement with West Ham—who must lower their £85 million asking price—they will still head into next season with a young, relatively inexperienced midfield. Fernandes could partner Kobbie Mainoo, but that would put two 21-year-olds in the centre of the pitch. United have also agreed a deal to sign Ederson, who turns 27 next month, but he has no Premier League experience.
Beyond that, Mason Mount played in a deeper role towards the end of last season but has had injury issues during his Old Trafford career, while 19-year-old Tyler Fletcher is the next academy prospect. Given those options, United will almost certainly feel they need a third midfielder for a season that sees them competing on four fronts and likely to feature 60 games rather than the 40 they just played.
Xhaka as a Solution
Perhaps there is a solution within the Premier League. Chelsea have had an £8 million bid for Granit Xhaka rejected by Sunderland, with the 33-year-old reportedly keen to reunite with his former Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso. Xhaka enjoyed a sensational season with the Black Cats and remains an excellent Premier League midfielder. He could slot into one of the two deep roles in United's midfield and bring leadership to a potentially young group of midfielders.
He was Sunderland's captain last season and played in all but four of their Premier League games, helping to drive the club to an unexpected seventh-place finish. When fit, he played almost every minute for the club. Alonso is keen to have Xhaka with him again after praising his leadership at Leverkusen, and that is an area United might need to look at this summer, with Casemiro's departure leaving a void in that department, especially in the middle of the pitch.
Financial Considerations
United will receive around £6.4 million in compensation from FIFA for Ugarte's injury, as it occurred during the World Cup, but that won't go far. They could look for a loan move as a short-term option, but the players available for that kind of deal would be limited. A deal for Xhaka might not excite supporters, but it could make an awful lot of sense now that United must do without Ugarte, who cannot play for the club but also cannot be sold.
