Man Utd Urged to Sign Granit Xhaka as Casemiro Exit Looms and Midfield Rebuild Begins
Ben McAleer
Manchester United have been urged by former goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel to sign ex-Arsenal star and Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka.
United are expected to strengthen in the middle of the park when the transfer window opens later this year.
Casemiro will leave when his contract expires next month, while Manuel Ugarte has been linked with a summer exit having struggled in his second season at Old Trafford.
United linked with numerous midfielders
United are believed to have a number of central midfielders on their wishlist, including Aurelien Tchouameni, Adam Wharton and most recently Botafogo star Danilo.
Schmeichel, though, believes that United should pursue a more experienced option and suggested that the Manchester giants push to sign Xhaka.
The Swiss star has shone for the Black Cats following his move from German giants Bayer Leverkusen to the Stadium of Light last summer.
Schmeichel urges United to sign Xhaka
The 33-year-old spent seven years at Arsenal before moving to Bayer Leverkusen in 2023, but despite his Gunners past, Schmeichel feels that Xhaka’s leadership stands him in higher stead than other targets.
“I have one (signing), maybe controversial in thinking, but I think we should go and sign Xhaka,” Schmeichel said on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast.
“Cheaper. I make my case, we are going to build a team around Kobbie. Casemiro is leaving. Bring in Wharton and Anderson or whatever, who are still young.
“What we don’t have really is proper leadership. When I look and see what Xhaka has done at Sunderland, he is the reason why they are absolutely amazing.
“His leadership qualities are great, he can play 80 per cent of the games, and he is a very good player. I know he can do it. If he does one or two years, we need leadership.
“I know Tonali is mentioned, but has he done enough at Newcastle to warrant that... I think Xhaka would bring a lot to the dressing room and have power around the person, which is rare. We’re desperate for more leadership.”
Leadership qualities stands Xhaka in good stead
Schmeichel added that while United have leaders in Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes, the addition of Xhaka would be a boost for a squad that is packed with “followers”.
“Harry Maguire is a fantastic leader. I do think he is. I think Bruno is. He's a leader in his own way, but he's a leader, and he leads a lot by how he plays. But then I look at the rest of the squad, you know, they're followers,” he continued.
“We've been in squads where everyone was leading. We know the value of having those players in there because on a Sunday or a Tuesday night, I always said, a Tuesday night where everything is going against you.
“You need somebody who can pull you out by the hair, the short hairs, and get you playing or find that little bit to bring you up. And that value of having that … and I've been thinking about this for a while. I think that would be a really good thing. I want somebody like that.”
United wrapped up a Champions League finish with an entertaining 3-2 win over Liverpool on Sunday afternoon as goals from Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko and Mainoo confirmed victory over their rivals.
