Manchester United may hope to utilise their newfound link with French club Nice after Sir Jim Ratcliffe purchased 25% of the club from the Glazers. Ratcliffe's company, INEOS, owns the Ligue 1 outfit, and there are already a couple of players who have caught the eye of Erik ten Hag.
One of those is centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo, with United described as favourites to get the deal done this summer. Todibo is expected to command a fee of around £52m.
Another is midfielder Khephren Thuram, identified as an ideal target. Thuram will be considerably cheaper than Todibo at £34m, though he's also attracing interest from Juventus and Inter in Italy. But they're not the only stars Ratcliffe knows from Nice who could end up at Old Trafford.
Man Utd plot shock Barkley swoop
According to talkSPORT, Man Utd are now considering a "surprise" move for Ross Barkley at Luton. Ratcliffe is described as a "fan" of Barkley, who spent the 2022/23 season at Nice after leaving Chelsea.
The British businessman is apparently "keen to find a buyer" for incumbent midfielder Casemiro, and doesn't intend to make Sofyan Amrabat's loan move from Fiorentina permanent. Barkley represents a possible replacement, and he could available in a "cut-price" deal if 18th-place Luton end up getting relegated.
"Fantastic" Barkley has rebuilt his reputation at Luton
After coming through the youth ranks at Everton, Barkley got a big move to Chelsea in 2018 for a fee in excess of £15m. However, things didn't work out at Stamford Bridge, with the Blues loaning him out to Aston Villa in 2020 before releasing him in 2022.
Stat
Vol.
Luton rank
Minutes played
1,606
5th
Goal involvements
6
=3rd
Expected goals
2.8
4th
Shots
45
1st
Expected assisted goals
3.4
2nd
Chances created
36
2nd
Shot-creating actions
75
2nd
Goal-creating actions
8
2nd
Passes completed
732
1st
Passes received
676
1st
Touches
1,107
2nd
Passes into the final third
88
1st
Passes into the penalty area
20
2nd
Progressive passes
106
1st
Successful take-ons
48
2nd
Carries into the final third
28
3rd
Progressive carrying distance (yards)
1,776
3rd
Tackles
35
4th
Ball recoveries
134
1st
Luton subsequently picked him up on a free transfer last summer, and though it looked like a gamble at the time, he's proved to be one of the Premier League signings of the season. Barkley has truly been doing it all in Rob Edwards' midfield, chipping in with goals and assists, creating in multiple phases, beating players at will and getting through plenty of work defensively too. Much of Luton's play has run through him.
Ratcliffe could soon bin Man Utd star who's earning more than Martinez
The Man United star could be on his way out of the club at the end of the season.
ByTom Lever Feb 25, 2024
Named the Hatters' player of the month for both November and December, he's won glowing praise from former team-mate Cesc Fabregas, who says he's an athletic "machine".
"He's playing at a fantastic level," he said. "I'm very happy for him because he lost his way a little bit, he lost his confidence and now he's back at it, You always need a player like this when you are in a team for example that didn’t have the confidence that they wanted. At Luton they were struggling and then when you see now that they have a proper idea of how they want to play.
"Physically, he’s a machine, physically, he’s one of the best, or the fittest players I played with, and he has adapted to this, but especially the personality he plays with, I think he’s the stand-out for this Luton side."