Ashley Young has urged his former club Manchester United to sign the PSG's Marco Verratti, likening the impact the diminutive Italian would have to that of fan-favourite Michael Carrick.
Verratti gave another devastating exhibition of his talent on Tuesday evening, helping the Parisians see off Manchester City 2-0 in an entertaining Champions League tie.
His defensive reading of the game, combined with the midfielder's eye for a pass, has led to Young comparing him to one time United legend - and current first-team coach - Carrick.
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"The Michael Carrick type has been missing for years. They haven't gone out and replaced Michael Carrick," Young recently told BBC Radio 5 Live.
Carrick retired from football in 2018, having spent the previous decade with Manchester United.
While injuries plagued the latter half of his career, the England international won virtually all there is to win with the club, including the Champions League.
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For Young, who was a teammate of Carrick's during the winger's nine-year spell at Old Trafford, part of the solution to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's current midfield dilemma should involve Paul Pogba moving back into a central position.
"I think [United] are missing a trick in the centre of midfield. I think Paul [Pogba] needs to play there," the 36-year-old remarked.
"At the weekend (against Aston Villa) he was playing out towards the left, I don't think that's Paul's best position. I think he wants to control play and he wants to dictate.
Young also believes that Verratti could be the perfect man to slot into the United midfield one day.
The 28-year-old Italian helped his nation to clinch this summer's Euro 2020 title, meaning his stock is arguably as high as it has ever been.
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Despite the advances of Barcelona and Real Madrid in recent years, the PSG star has chosen to stay put in the French capital, where he can now call Lionel Messi a teammate.
Suffice to say, it would take something very special indeed to tempt Verratti away from his current club, but that hasn't stopped Young from imagining such a scenario.
"He's a player who can find passes, the way Carrick used to do," the Villa Wing-back added.
"I think he would be an unbelievable signing for Manchester United."
Topics: marco verratti, Premier League, Champions League, Michael Carrick