Manchester United’s reported £21 million transfer target may be the perfect fit for the hustle and bustle of Premier League football.
At least, that is the view of Cesc Fabregas.
And if there is anyone capable of making such a prediction, it is a man who knows what it takes to succeed at the summit of English football, captaining Arsenal before returning to London from Barcelona and helping Antonio Conte’s side claim the title.
Fabregas, by the way, also shared a dressing room with a young Youssouf Fofana at Monaco.
Manchester United reportedly saw a loan bid rejected on the final day of the summer of 2023, per Fabrizio Romano. Should the Red Devils renew their interest nearly 12 months on, Fofana could be snapped up for a bargain £21 million with his Monaco contract expiring in 2025.
Likened to Chelsea and Leicester City icon N’Golo Kante by some, Fabregas has no doubts that Fofana has the strengths and the skills required to make the transition from physical French football to the English game.
Manchester United can land Youssouf Fofana for £21m
“I know him. I played with him,” Fabregas tells the BBC’s Planet Premier League podcast. “(Fofana) is a very dynamic and a strong player. Good on the ball. A modern type of player; aggressive, can jump, he’s box to box.
“I really like Fofana and I think he fits very well with the Premier League style.”
A member of France’s 2022 World Cup squad, Fofana confirmed last week that he is keen on a fresh start and a new adventure after four years in the Principality. Fabregas’ former employers Arsenal have also been linked.
But, perhaps via his connections at Monaco, Fabregas claims to have been made aware that neither Old Trafford nor the Emirates will be his old team-mate’s eventual destination.
“Funnily enough, I never heard about Man United,” adds Fabregas, who found himself at the heart of a Red Devils saga when David Moyes’ side made a number of bids to sign him back in 2013.
“I heard that he was going to AC Milan because (Lille boss Paulo) Fonseca is probably going to go there from France and they know each other. So, let’s see.”
Is France international Fofana heading to AC Milan
Man United need at least one new central midfielder this summer with Casemiro and Christian Eriksen expected to follow Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial out the door.
There is also an expectation that Fiorentina loanee Sofyan Amrabat – who joined instead of Fofana on September 1st last summer – will say his farewells even if the Moroccan has not given up yet on a long-term stay at the FA Cup winners.
“Do I already know what I’m going to do next year? No. We are going to talk,” Amrabat told Ziggo Sport after that Wembley victory over Man City.
“Staying is certainly an option. Look, I think it has been a very difficult season. For Manchester United it needs to be much better, and also for me personally.
“(The season) wasn’t easy. I have always remained calm and trained very hard. Ultimately, that patience has been rewarded.
‘We are going to talk. Manchester United are the biggest club in the world, so who wouldn’t want to play football here? But all parties have to be happy with each other, so we will sit down now and see what happens.”