Former Welsh striker Dean Saunders believes Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante could head to Manchester United in January.
Kante has had to adjust to a different role this season after Maurizio Sarri brought in midfield maestro Jorginho along with him from Napoli in the summer.
What can Kante offer Manchester United? Five things to know…
- Kante began his career in France with Boulogne and the Caen, but made his mark in the Premier League during Leicester’s “fairy tale” season.
- The Frenchman has excellent ball-winning abilities and made the most tackles in Europe’s top leagues in both the 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons.
- Gary Neville criticised United for not having a midfielder who could pass the ball against Liverpool with Kante’s passing improving this season.
- In April 2016 Sir Alex Ferguson labelled “Kanté is by far the best player in the league.”
- United have also been criticised for their lack of running in games. Paul Pogba said: “Everybody knows that N’Golo Kanté can run for 11 players – that’s his best quality.”
Sarri’s tactics use a technical player in the deeper midfield role, with the Italian confirming it is not for Kante and the France international has not had the same impact on proceedings than in previous campaigns.
According to Saunders, Manchester United stand to benefit from signing the World Cup winner: “For me, if they sign one player that would make a big difference to the whole defence,” he told the TalkSport.
“N’Golo Kante – there might be a chance of getting him out of Chelsea
“It’s looking like it’s a bit rocky for him, Maurizio Sarri has come out and said he can’t play in the holding role.”
Saunders claims such a move would liberate Fred and Paul Pogba in midfield. He added that United’s interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should get rid of Nemanja Matic and Ander Herrera.
“He would give Paul Pogba and Fred a chance to get forward in midfield, and I’d get rid of Matic and Herrera.
“But this is the problem for Solskjaer – because that’s what’s needed, but he can’t do all that as interim manager.”
Is Saunders right about United’s midfield?
Saunders’ assessment of United’s midfield, especially his disregard for Herrera and Matic, would have carried more weight before the Red Devils’ emphatic 5-1 victory over Cardiff City on Saturday.
United’s players outran their opponents for the first time this season and Herrera and Matic were at the heart of United’s free-wheeling style in the Welsh capital.
The Serbian slotted into the holding midfield role with ease against Cardiff, he broke up play well and allowed Herrera and Pogba to drive forward. Based on that performance alone, Kante would be surplus to requirement at Old Trafford.
19th May 2013: Man Utd score five goals in Sir Alex Ferguson's final Premier League game in charge.
*207 games without repeating it*
22nd December 2018: Man Utd score five goals in a Premier League game for the first time since.
Squawka Suggests next. pic.twitter.com/EYKKOG8b8X
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) December 22, 2018
United’s team as a whole have been criticised for being overly cautious and risk averse this season with their propensity for passing sideways and backwards, over and over again.
On Saturday, United seemed to be liberated from the cautious shackles placed on them by Jose Mourinho and played with a style that was reminiscent of their glory days under Sir Alex Ferguson – United haven’t scored five goals in the Premier League since the legendary Scot’s last game in charge.
Even Victor Lindelof and and Phil Jones were making runs forward, the former completing the most take-ons in a single game during his United career so far.
The post Chelsea could cash in on Kante amid Man Utd links, says Saunders appeared first on Squawka News.
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