Manchester United are expected to target a new central midfielder next summer, with head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer seemingly determined to improve his options in that area of the field.
West Ham United's Declan Rice is believed to be the club's leading target, but it remains to be seen whether the Red Devils can convince David Moyes's side to part with their star player.
Man United could also target a new centre-forward next year, which would decrease the funds available to sign a new midfielder, and it will be fascinating to see how the 20-time English champions approach the transfer window ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.
Here, Sports Mole picks out five central midfielders that the club could attempt to sign during next summer's transfer window.
Declan Rice (West Ham United)
© Reuters
As mentioned above, Rice is seemingly Man United's leading midfield target, and the 22-year-old appears to be the perfect option for Solskjaer's side.
The former Chelsea youngster starred for West Ham last season, while he was also excellent for England at the European Championship, further cementing his position as one of the leading holding midfielders in Europe.
Rice has allegedly told the Hammers that he will not be signing a new deal, but he has a contract at the London Stadium until June 2024, so it would be safe to assume that Moyes's side would demand up to £100m for his services during next summer's transfer window.
The midfielder is the perfect age for the Red Devils and has already proved himself in the Premier League; it is not a surprise that the 20-time English champions are seemingly determined to sign him, and he could take his game to a new level by making the move to Old Trafford.
Youri Tielemans (Leicester City)
© Reuters
Youri Tielemans has been a revelation for Leicester since arriving from Monaco, initially on loan, and he has now made 112 appearances for the Foxes, contributing 18 goals and 19 assists in the process.
The 24-year-old was sensational in Leicester's FA Cup final win over Chelsea last season, and Brendan Rodgers's side, despite their improvement in recent years, face a serious battle to keep hold of him.
Capable of dictating the play from a deeper area, Tielemans would represent a different option to Rice, and he would be slightly cheaper, as his existing deal is due to expire in June 2023.
Man United would face competition for the Belgium international if he became available, but the Red Devils would fancy their chances of convincing him to make the move to Old Trafford.
Yves Bissouma (Brighton & Hove Albion)
© Reuters
It is a surprise that Brighton managed to keep hold of Yves Bissouma during the summer transfer window considering his performances for the Seagulls during the 2020-21 campaign.
The 25-year-old was linked with a number of clubs over the summer but ultimately remained at the Amex and has started the new season in impressive fashion, contributing one assist in three Premier League outings.
Graham Potter's side are unlikely to be able to keep Bissouma on a long-term basis, and it would not be a surprise to see him move on ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.
Bissouma would certainly be cheaper than both Rice and Tielemans but is arguably not the type of midfielder that Solskjaer is looking for, as he plays a similar role to Fred, albeit to a higher standard.
Like three other players on this list, he is proven in the Premier League, and there is no reason to suggest that he would not be able to transfer his form into the Champions League.
Ruben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
© Reuters
Ruben Neves was strongly linked with Man United over the summer, but the transfer window ended with the Portugal international still at Molineux, which looked to be unlikely at the end of last season.
The 24-year-old, who has three years left to run on his current deal, has scored 20 times and registered 10 assists in 179 appearances for Wolves since arriving from Porto.
It does seem likely that Neves will move on at some stage in the near future in search of a fresh challenge, and he would represent an interesting option for Solskjaer, who is thought to be impressed with his ability to dictate play from a deeper position, as well as provide a threat going forward.
Neves is different to Rice, Tielemans and Bissouma in terms of what he offers, and it might well be that the Portuguese is brought in alongside another midfielder, should Paul Pogba move on.
Aurelien Tchouameni (Monaco)
© Reuters
Aurelien Tchouameni is regarded as one of the most talented youngsters in European football, and he has already made 53 first-team appearances for Monaco, contributing four goals and four assists.
The 21-year-old was linked with both Chelsea and Man United over the summer but remained with his Ligue 1 outfit, where he has a contract until June 2024.
Standing at 6ft 2in, Tchouameni's strength and power make him ideal for the Premier League, while his ability in possession is also of a high standard, meaning that he would be an attractive proposition for Solskjaer's side.
Signing the midfielder would be somewhat of a risk considering that he has never played in the Premier League, but the Frenchman has turned out in Europe for both Monaco and Bordeaux, and it does appear that one of the leading clubs in European football will sign him sooner or later.
