5 players Man Utd could turn to as Ten Hag seeks Mount transfer alternative

24 June 2023 , 15:24

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5 players Man Utd could turn to as Ten Hag seeks Mount transfer alternative

By now, it is crystal clear to all that Manchester United view Mason Mount as their priority target this summer but prying him away from Chelsea is proving difficult.

It is not a case of the England international not wanting to join, by all accounts Mount has his heart set on Old Trafford. But those running the show at Stamford Bridge are not budging until United meet the asking price. The Red Devils have seen three bids for the 24-year-old rejected, with the most recent offer thought to have been worth £50million plus another £5m in add-ons.

Given the third bid was turned down, there are now rumours suggesting United are preparing to walk away from the deal altogether. If that is the case, Mirror Football has identified some replacements Erik ten Hag could turn to.

Adrien Rabiot

Man United have once again been linked with Adrien Rabiot (Getty Images)

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United's interest in the controversial Frenchman is well-documented and they have tried to lure him to Old Trafford once before.

This time, Rabiot could be even more appealing considering he is out of contract following the expiration of his deal at Juventus. United could land a very gifted midfield presence without paying a penny in transfer fees.

Any deal for Rabiot does of course come with some drawbacks, he has been known on occasion to prove difficult to deal with in the dressing room, but when playing alongside a seasoned veteran like Casemiro perhaps the France international would be on his best behaviour.

Ryan Gravenberch

Ryan Gravenberch could leave Bayern this summer and head to the Premier League (S. Mellar/FC Bayern via Getty Images)

Youthful and incredibly technically gifted, Gravenberch was once wanted by just about every major force in European football while at Ajax.

He eventually opted to join German giants Bayern Munich, where things haven't exactly gone to plan. So much so that Gravenberch has already been linked with the Allianz exit door after just one season.

Given the obvious Ten Hag connection from their shared Ajax days, United may boast an advantage over some of the other clubs keeping tabs on Gravenberch - including fierce rivals Liverpool.

Joao Palhinha

Joao Palhinha is attracting lots of attention, particularly from Man Utd (Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)

Palhinha plays a slightly more defensive role for current outfit Fulham but has shown he is more than capable of contributing in an attacking sense.

That could make him an attractive candidate for United, given Casemiro carries the bulk of the defensive load in the Red Devils' midfield anyway. This move is a tad less likely than the aforementioned two, given the Portugal international only joined Fulham last summer.

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Therefore, his contract at Craven Cottage still has plenty of time left to run, in turn ensuring Fulham can demand an eye-watering amount before they sanction his departure.

Moises Caicedo

Man United are eyeing a move for Moises Caicedo should they fail to sign Mason Mount (Getty Images)

The man just about everyone wants. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and indeed United have all been linked with the Ecuadorian midfielder at some stage.

As things stand, it seems as if the Blues are in pole position to land his signature, but if United are prepared to walk away from the Mount deal there is nothing to suggest they wouldn't try to hijack any move for Caicedo.

The 21-year-old has shone for Brighton, who are well aware of the high-profile interest in their player and therefore know they can slap quite the price tag on his head.

If United are willing to play ball, they could secure themselves one of the most technically astute midfielders who is capable of weaving his influence at both ends of the pitch.

Leon Goretzka

Leon Goretzka could be on his way out of Bayern Munich (Roland Krivec/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Bayern Munich are in the hunt for a new central midfielder and as a result, it is believed that Goretzka could be on the prowl for a new challenge with his place in the squad now under threat.

It remains unclear just how much faith Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel has in Goretzka, given his game time declined significantly after Tuchel's appointment.

United are rumoured to have spotted this trend and Ten Hag is keen on enticing the Germany international to Old Trafford.

Bayern could even sell him for cheaper than expected as they look to make room for an incoming central midfielder.

Josh O'Brien