The new Pogba could be on his way to Man Utd after Santos and Tielemans

The transfer window has been something of a rollercoaster for Manchester United to date.

We all knew Casemiro was leaving but it’s been tougher for the Red Devils than first imagined when it has come to replacing the great Brazilian.

Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes were their top targets but they have joined Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur instead. Subsequently, Michael Carrick and Co have had to get a bit creative.

A deal for Ederson has fallen through with Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans favoured. Both moves seemingly came out of nowhere.

That said, there is a sense that they still need another midfielder.

Why Man United need to improve their midfield further

Let’s be honest, last season United only really had three midfielders capable of doing a job for Carrick; Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo and the aforementioned Casemiro.

Manuel Ugarte barely kicked a ball under the new manager and he will continue to be on the sidelines next term after suffering a cruel ACL rupture during the World Cup.

That rules out any exit for the Uruguayan and it also showcases why they need to bring in a third midfielder. In Santos and Tielemans, they have added great quality but it does feel as though they are yet to truly replace Casemiro just yet.

Tielemans is not your monstrous duel winner. He’s a diminutive figure, more of a playmaker. Santos is more akin to the Brazilian but the worry is that he has not actually played much football since heading to Chelsea. Last term, he started just 13 Premier League matches.

So, what’s the solution? Well, several other midfielders have been explored. Aurelien Tchouameni is the dream target but any chance of a deal happening looks remote.

Brighton’s Carlos Baleba remains an option while Borussia Dortmund’s impressive Felix Nmecha has also been touted. For now, however, any move for that pairing is on the backburner. Instead, a move for one of Tchouameni’s international colleagues looks more likely.

France’s “best midfielder” could replace Casemiro at Man United

United have tried their hardest to find a natural replacement for Casemiro this summer but that is easier said than done.

This is a player with 91 Brazil caps to his name and five Champions League titles under his belt. It was never going to be straightforward.

Tielemans and Santos will help to fill the gaps but what United need is tough tackler. They need someone capable of breaking up the play and they need a runner. They need a Paul Pogba-like figure.

The Frenchman is still held in incredibly high regard at Old Trafford and it’s clear to see why. The definition of a maverick, the midfielder could do it all. He possessed immense physicality but he also had grace and technique. He was the perfect midfielder.

Well, in their bid to find their new version of Pogba and replace Casemiro, Manu Kone is a genuine option. Fabrizio Romano took to his YouTube channel on Sunday evening to reveal that United have already held talks with the player’s agent regarding a move.

Valued at around £51m, landing the Roma midfielder would be another particularly cost effective addition in what has been a summer dominated by inflated fees.

Also wanted by Liverpool, what makes the 25-year-old such a hot commodity? Well, in the words of Rio Ferdinand, he was arguably “France’s best midfielder” at the World Cup.

Standing at an imposing 6 foot 1 frame, he’s not a giant but he’s also not the smallest. It what makes him such an impressive midfielder and what allows him to possess such a well-rounded toolkit, much like Pogba in his prime.

While Kone does not impact play in the final third quite as much as United’s former midfielder – he scored just twice last term – there are some similarities to their game.

Indeed, two of his biggest strengths are in his ability to carry the ball and draw fouls, something Pogba was an expert in. In the Serie A last term, the Roma star ranked among the top 15% of midfielders for successful dribbles per 90 minutes with 1.06 and among the best 15% for fouls drawn with 1.94 per 90.

What makes the comparison stronger is actually the affection Kone has for his fellow countryman. Last year, he admitted the following in an interview: “I had two favourite players. The first is Pogba, it’s incredible what he did at Juventus and with France, he represented a lot for our national team. He was one of my idols, like Yaya Toure. They both had enormous careers, but I think that for my qualities and my style of play I can be compared a little to them.”

Coming into the window, he may not have been at the forefront of supporters’ minds but after playing a starring role at the World Cup, his stock has risen and he would be an excellent capture this summer. He could be exactly the player United have been craving in their search for a Casemiro replacement.