Man Utd to enlist Sir Alex Ferguson to sign top midfield target who will transform the team

Manchester United are considering enlisting the help of legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson to sign a top midfield target this summer.

Ferguson won 38 trophies in a glittering 26-year career in the Old Trafford dugout before retiring in 2013.

United have spent the last 13 years attempting to return to the high standards set by the Scot during his time in charge.

The club are two points away from qualifying for next season's Champions League, a competition they've not played in since 2023.

A major squad revamp is on the cards this summer and midfield is a position which needs considerable investment.

Casemiro will depart upon the expiry of his contract, with Manuel Ugarte also expected to move on after failing to impress since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain.

Among the players on their wishlist is Lille's teenage sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi. The 18-year-old is already a first-team regular for the Ligue 1 outfit, having played 39 times in all competitions this campaign.

United face stiff competition from Arsenal and Bayern Munich for his signature, but are prepared to pull out the big guns and have Ferguson 'win him over' according to the Manchester Evening News.

Bouaddi's performances have caught everyone's attention across the continent, much like Leny Yoro's in 2024. United beat Real Madrid to Yoro's signature, believing he was a player to build around for the future.

Other names on United's midfield shortlist include Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba, Aurelien Tchouameni and Sandro Tonali.

READ NEXT: Man Utd away kit for 2026/27 season leaked and fans are in agreement

Sir Alex has been used to tempt players previously

Using Ferguson to convince players is a tactic United have used previously, although not with great success.

In 2020, Ole Gunnar Solskjær asked his former manager to help lure Jude Bellingham to the Red Devils during a visit to their Carrington training complex.

Bellingham was choosing his next club after a breakout campaign with Birmingham City and toured Carrington with his family.

While Ferguson intended to speak with Bellingham, the club's sporting director, John Murtough, only allowed him to exchange pleasantries with the future England international before hurrying him along to other business.

It reportedly left Ferguson furious, knowing he could have played a greater role in convincing Bellingham. He eventually rejected United's advances and joined Borussia Dortmund later that year.