Manchester United’s upturn in form under Michael Carrick has been nothing short of remarkable, with the temporary boss boosting his chances of securing the job on a permanent basis.
The 44-year-old has taken charge of eight matches since his return to Old Trafford, subsequently winning six of them and only suffering one defeat in the process.
As a result of the recent efforts in the Premier League, the Red Devils now sit in third place and boast a three-point gap over Liverpool, who are just outside the Champions League places.
A return to Europe’s biggest club competition is no doubt the aim for Carrick, who has handed the fanbase a reason to be positive after a dismal period under Ruben Amorim.
Any qualification for such a competition could bring about huge funds to the hierarchy, which could allow for added reinforcements during the summer transfer window.
Man Utd’s hunt for a new midfielder this summer
With current midfielder Casemiro set to depart United at the end of the season, the need for a replacement has become a priority over the last few months.
The Red Devils have been keeping a close eye on the services of Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson ahead of a possible move in the summer window.
However, any deal would likely cost the hierarchy a pretty penny, with the Reds currently demanding a fee in the region of £100m to offload their star player.
Such a fee would be a club record, which may be somewhat unrealistic, subsequently resulting in his teammate Ibrahim Sangare appearing on their radar in recent days.
According to CaughtOffside, staff behind the scenes at Old Trafford have been closely monitoring the Ivorian throughout the ongoing campaign.
The report also states that his 6 foot 3 frame could make him the perfect ball-winner at the heart of the side – something which is desperately needed when Casemiro departs.
However, like Anderson, Forest don’t want to offload the 28-year-old, but they could be tempted to do business if a fee in the region of £45m is presented by any interested party.
Why Sangare would be United’s next Keane
Having a dominant midfielder hasn’t been alien to United over the years gone by, as seen with Roy Keane, who spent a remarkable 12-year period at Old Trafford.
The Irishman joined the Red Devils for a reported £3.75m back in the summer of 1993, with such a figure breaking the British transfer record at the time.
Such a fee would prove to be a bargain for Sir Alex Ferguson, with the talent going on to rack up 479 appearances for the club – even becoming their captain over a sustained period.
Keane would also win seven Premier League titles during his time at the Theatre of Dreams, along with four FA Cups and the iconic Champions League win in 1999.
His move to join the club just over 30 years ago will certainly go down as one of their best ever, with the hierarchy having the chance to replicate such a move this summer.
The Irishman joined from Nottingham Forest all those years ago, with Sangare having the chance to emulate such a transfer during the upcoming transfer window.
There’s no doubt the Ivorian international won’t be the supporters’ first choice this summer, but the 28-year-old would certainly be an excellent addition in their attempts to bolster the midfield department.
He’s racked up 21 league appearances this campaign, subsequently notching four combined goals and assists at the City Ground – including a wonder strike against Tottenham Hotspur.
However, it’s without the ball where Sangare has massively impressed, with his underlying stats making him the perfect replacement for the outgoing Casemiro.
The Forest star has made 2.7 tackles per 90 so far this term, along with 0.7 blocked shots – with both tallies ranking him in the top 5% of all players in the division this season.
|
Ibrahim Sangare – PL stats (2025/26) |
|
|---|---|
|
Statistics (per 90) |
Tally |
|
Games played |
21 |
|
Goals & assists |
4 |
|
Pass accuracy |
87% |
|
Dribble success |
56% |
|
Duels won |
50% |
|
Tackles made |
2.7 |
|
Blocked shots |
0.7 |
|
Ball recoveries |
4.3 |
He’s also made 4.3 ball recoveries and 2.2 clearances per 90, which further reaffirms his sensational ability to break up the play at the heart of the side.
In possession, Sangare has been just as impressive, subsequently completing 56% of the dribbles he’s attempted and achieving an 87% pass accuracy rate.
His all-round quality has made him one of the division’s best deep-lying midfielders – something which United will desperately need during the summer window.
The £45m fee touted for his signature could prove to be an excellent piece of business, especially if he can replicate the levels he’s achieved in the East Midlands this campaign.
Should he get anywhere near the levels produced by Keane at Old Trafford, there’s no denying that the Ivorian would become a fan-favourite in any attempt to take the Red Devils back to their former glory.
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