Manchester United's summer of transfers finally looks set to be kicked off this week but one pundit is concentrating on a player they are set to miss out on, in the form of Kalvin Phillips.
United fans will already be feeling like it's been a long summer, with the club's slow pace in confirming any new signings ahead of next season.
That does finally look about to change, as Feyenoord left-back Tyrell Malacia is about to join them, after last minute swoop denied Lyon.
Their move for Frenkie de Jong is also gathering pace and that saga is nearly at an end, however it's the failure to sign a defensive midfielder that is now being questioned.
Leeds United star Phillips is expected to move to United's local rivals, Manchester City, any day now, having agreed a £42 million fee with Leeds, and Tony Cascarino can't believe Erik ten Hag hasn't tried to sign the midfielder.
"I don’t know why Man United have not made a move for Kalvin Phillips," the former Chelsea player said on talkSPORT.
"They might say that they tried to and he’d already decided that he was going to City, but he’s exactly what Man United need.
"He might not have wanted to go there, that might be the reason, but there seemingly wasn’t any competition from a club who sorely need that type of player.
"It’s a huge miss in their team, a ball-winning player who can keep it and let other players do their thing and he does that as well as anybody."
Under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, United often played with a double pivot of Scott McTominay and Fred, or McFred as it the duo became to be known.
However the pair came in for a lot of criticism in the past two seasons and Nemanja Matic once again became a more prevalent fixture in the starting XI under Ralf Rangnick.
The Serb has now left the club, to be reunited with Jose Mourinho at Roma, having already worked with the manager at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge, at Chelsea.
United do look to be in need of a defensive midfielder, despite Ten Hag concentrating on bringing in De Jong, and with Christian Eriksen potentially joining too.
And Cascarino continued by pointing to Tottenham Hotspur bringing in a defensive midfielder, adding, "We’ve seen Bissouma go to Tottenham for a relatively low fee at £20-25m.
"Okay, he had a year left on his contract so it’s a different circumstance but players without great numbers in terms of goals and assists, their fees aren’t quite as big.
"The only one is Declan Rice. Rice doesn’t have great stats in goals and assists, but everyone can watch him and see his disruption of teams and how he affects their performance.
"I think that Kalvin Phillips does that, but he’s gone to a side who had the best holding midfield player in the country in Rodri, who was above Declan Rice."
United may have missed out on Phillips due to their rivalry with his hometown club Leeds, with either they, or him, not wanting to deal with the Red Devils.
However, with a left back and a creative midfielder, or two, on the verge of signing, the new manager might want to consider what options he has in defensive midfield next.
Topics: Premier League, Manchester City, Manchester United, Transfers, Kalvin Phillips, Leeds United
