Former Manchester United Striker Recommends Surprise Midfield Target
Manchester United's search for midfield reinforcements has taken an intriguing turn, with former Red Devils striker Louis Saha suggesting an unexpected solution. The club, which has been actively seeking to bolster its central midfield options, is now being urged to consider Lille's teenage sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi as a potential long-term answer to their midfield conundrum.
Midfield Reinforcement Remains a Priority
Central midfield has been identified as a key area for improvement at Old Trafford, with the club showing strong interest in Brighton's Carlos Baleba during the previous summer transfer window. Although that pursuit ultimately proved unsuccessful, Manchester United remain determined to strengthen their midfield ranks ahead of the upcoming summer transfer period. This need has become particularly pressing following confirmation that experienced midfielder Casemiro will depart the club upon the expiration of his current contract.
The Red Devils' list of potential midfield targets reportedly includes established Premier League talents such as Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton and Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson, alongside the previously pursued Carlos Baleba. However, Saha believes the club should look beyond these familiar names and consider a younger, more developmental option.
Saha's Recommendation: Ayyoub Bouaddi
Louis Saha, who won two Premier League titles and the Champions League during his time at Manchester United, has publicly endorsed Lille's 18-year-old French midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi as an ideal acquisition for his former club. The former striker, speaking to Grosvenor Casnios, highlighted Bouaddi's exceptional potential and maturity despite his youth.
'He might be very young, but Bouaddi is able to read the game, he is a big prospect,' Saha explained. 'He reminds me a bit of Leny Yoro in terms of his age and potential, he can read the game. He's the type of player I would love to see at United.'
Bouaddi's credentials are certainly impressive for a player of his age. The French midfielder made his professional debut for Lille at just 16 years and 3 days old in October 2023, appearing in the Europa Conference League. This achievement made him the youngest player ever to feature in a European club competition and Lille's youngest ever player. He made his Ligue 1 debut later that same month.
Now 18 years old, Bouaddi has already accumulated significant first-team experience, with 50 Ligue 1 appearances and 79 senior outings for Lille to his name. Additionally, he has earned eight caps for the France Under-21 national team, further demonstrating his growing reputation within European football.
Advice for Benjamin Sesko
During the same interview, Saha also offered guidance to Manchester United's current striker Benjamin Sesko. The 22-year-old summer signing has scored four goals in his debut Premier League season, showing promising form before Michael Carrick's appointment as interim manager. However, Sesko has found himself behind Bryan Mbeumo in the pecking order during recent matches.
'I think Benjamin Sesko is starting to understand the Premier League more, the movement, his teammates, the tactics he has to play under,' Saha observed. 'Sometimes with the pressing, sometimes not, sometimes just being a fox in the box. He's an athlete, so those opportunities will come. The more games he's going to play, the more goals he's going to score.'
Saha emphasized that Sesko needs to develop greater aggression and self-belief to reach his full potential at Manchester United. 'I think he needs to have that eye where he's like almost battling a defender and he wants revenge. He needs this kind of aggression a bit more, and arrogance. I think when we get that, Sesko is going to be one of the players who is really hard to play against.'
The former striker pointed to examples within the current squad that Sesko could emulate. 'He needs arrogance, a bit like Matheus Cunha can show sometimes, or Bryan Mbeumo. When you have all the players really express this kind of confidence and arrogance, this is where any defence will, I think, in some way, become fragile.'
Saha acknowledged the challenge facing the young striker but highlighted the opportunity presented by limited competition for the forward positions. 'At this age, it's a very big task, but I think he has the opportunity to do it because there is not much competition for him upfront, so he has to do it. He has the opportunity to do it, but he has to do it because this is what the manager needs.'
As Manchester United continue their midfield recruitment planning, Saha's endorsement of Ayyoub Bouaddi adds an intriguing dimension to their transfer strategy. The club's decision-makers will need to weigh the potential of young talents like Bouaddi against more established options as they seek to rebuild their midfield for future success.
