Man United transfer news: Michael Carrick targets 'rejuvenated' £15m Leeds man after Old Trafford masterclass

Manchester United are reportedly weighing up a astonishment attack for 'rejuvenated' Leeds United midfielder Ao Tanaka successful the summertime transportation window.

The Red Devils inched person to Champions League shot with a hard-fought 1-0 triumph astatine Chelsea on Saturday evening, acknowledgment to Matheus Cunha's effort astatine Stamford Bridge.

Michael Carrick has led Man Utd to a praiseworthy 3rd spot successful the Premier League table since taking the reins from Ruben Amorim, and the 20-time English champions are besides conscionable six points worse disconnected than Manchester City.

Qualification for Europe's premier contention volition assistance Man Utd's quality to pull and clasp apical talent, specified arsenic Kobbie Mainoo, who is believed to beryllium closing successful connected a caller declaration after reigniting his Old Trafford vocation nether Carrick.

However, Casemiro volition beryllium departing erstwhile his declaration expires astatine the extremity of the season, portion Manuel Ugarte has failed to chopped the mustard successful England and could beryllium connected the determination too.

Man United impressed by 'energetic' Ao Tanaka

The likes of Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton and Ederson of Atalanta BC person been heavily linked with moves to Manchester, but according to TEAMtalk, Leeds' Tanaka has present emerged arsenic an unexpected target.

The 27-year-old played a starring relation successful the Whites' promotion to the Premier League past season, registering 5 goals and 2 assists successful 43 Championship matches, and helium has 4 strikes to his sanction successful each tournaments this term.

However, Tanaka has struggled to go a accordant Premier League starter nether Daniel Farke, who has selected the Japan planetary conscionable 9 times from the archetypal whistle successful England's apical formation this season.

One of Tanaka's starring roles came successful Leeds' 2-1 triumph implicit Man Utd astatine Old Trafford connected April 13, though, and Carrick was supposedly near highly impressed with his 'energetic' show successful the centre of the park.

The Japan planetary - who is expected to correspond his state astatine the 2026 World Cup - is supposedly unfastened to joining a caller nine this summer, but helium would similar to proceed successful the Premier League alternatively than caput backmost to the Bundesliga, contempt beardown German interest.

It was reported past period that 3 Bundesliga clubs were keeping a adjacent oculus connected Tanaka, whom Leeds signed for conscionable £2.9m from Fortuna Dusseldorf successful the summertime of 2024.

Ao Tanaka could beryllium cut-price midfield bargain for Man United - but there's a catch

While the likes of Anderson, Baleba and Wharton could bid adjacent to £100m to permission their existent clubs this summer, Leeds are reportedly blessed to commencement the bidding for Tanaka astatine astir £15m.

The Red Devils could truthful onshore a cut-price midfield bargain with the Japanese lynchpin, who would beryllium an perfect squad subordinate to regenerate the struggling Ugarte but would not beryllium a marquee arrival.

Furthermore, the 27-year-old is seemingly pining for regular starts astatine his adjacent club, and Man United whitethorn beryllium incapable to warrant him the minutes helium desires if they besides motion a big-money Casemiro replacement.

In contrast, Newcastle United oregon Everton - 2 different clubs who seemingly clasp an involvement successful Tanaka - would beryllium better-placed to bow to his wishes, particularly the erstwhile if 1 oregon some of Bruno Guimaraes oregon Sandro Tonali depart.

The second 2 person besides been linked with Man United, truthful adjacent if the Red Devils suffer retired connected Tanaka to the Magpies, the determination could inactive enactment retired for them if it means hiring either Guimaraes oregon Tonali.