Jaap Stam has named two Premier League stars he would ‘like’ at Manchester United as the club prepare to make Ederson their first summer signing.
United have agreed a £35m deal with Italian club Atalanta to sign Brazilian midfielder Ederson after the World Cup.
Ederson will become the first signing of the Michael Carrick era but the Old Trafford hero wants at least one more midfielder to arrive through the doors.
Manchester United will be without Casemiro next season following his departure and are open to offers for Manuel Ugarte after two underwhelming years at the club.
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West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes appears to be United’s top target and the Red Devils are believed to be leading Real Madrid and Arsenal in the race to secure his signature.
But United legend Stam has named Brighton’s Carlos Baleba and Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali as two ‘standout targets’ for his former club.
Baleba was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford last summer but endured a frustrating season on the south coast.
United, though, are still believed to be interested in a deal for the 22-year-old, who is known to be keen on the move.
Tonali, meanwhile, is expected to leave Newcastle this summer and has already been the subject of a £75m bid from Tottenham, which was rejected.
Manchester United have long-standing interest in the Italian but are reluctant to meet Newcastle’s asking price which stands at at least £85m.
Asked which midfielders United should target this summer, Stam told ComeOn: ‘I like Carlos Baleba from Brighton, he still stands out to me.
‘I also really like Sandro Tonali from Newcastle for that role. These two stand out for me as players I’d like at Manchester United.
‘It’s not easy to bring in these players because, nowadays, the transfer fees are very high. But if you want to be successful, you need to be very good in your recruitment, looking at your system and who you need to bring in.
‘You also need to spend, which everyone knows. It is very important to make the right decisions.’
In an exclusive interview with Metro, ex-England midfielder Danny Murphy named Tonali and Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson as the two ‘obvious’ midfield targets for Manchester United.
‘The two obvious ones would be Elliot Anderson or Sandro Tonali,’ he said on behalf of NetBet football. ‘Both players have wonderful energy and great tenacity.
‘They are the perfect type of Premier League midfielders who would improve United. If I was the head of recruitment at United, I’d be doing everything I can to get one of those two.’
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