Manchester United Transfer News: Latest on Gonzalo Higuain, N'Golo Kante Rumours

Manchester United have reportedly upped their interest in Napoli’s star striker Gonzalo Higuain, with manager Louis van Gaal said to have personally run the rule over the player.

That’s according to Simon Mullock of the Sunday Mirror, who stated the Red Devils “want to add to their squad a proven striker with top-level international experience.” It’s also noted Van Gaal kept an eye on Higuain’s efforts during Napoli’s recent clash with Roma, in which Higuain was unable to help his team-mates avoid a 1-0 defeat.

The 28-year-old’s goalscoring was the bedrock for a Napoli title challenge earlier in the season, although momentum slipped from their grasp late on in the campaign. Here is a look at some of Higuain’s best finishes this term:

The Argentina international has certainly established himself at Napoli since signing from Real Madrid and perhaps, as he enters the peak years of his career, the player himself may decide it’s time for a new challenge.

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After all, while Napoli are a massive name and a club with a proud history, they aren’t ready to challenge for top honours quite yet. Of course, the same can be said for United, although you suspect after a summer splurge, with the forward potentially at the heart of it, they will be next term.

Higuain is a player who is performing to a remarkable standard this season too, as BT Sport’s James Horncastle noted here:

What’ll be key for any deal, naturally, is the transfer fee and with two years remaining on his contract, the Serie A side can hold out for a massive amount for the forward before considering selling him.

That won’t be an issue for United, who are one of the wealthiest teams in the world. Weighing up whether to part with massive money for a player who is talented, but yet to play in the Premier League and who is 28 years old will key, especially given it’d be at odds with the club’s recent focus on developing youngsters.

Manchester United Join N’Golo Kante Race

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According to Paul Hetherington of the Daily Star Sunday, Manchester United are ready to rival the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City in the battle for Leicester City star midfielder N’Golo Kante.

The Frenchman is set to cost £30 million according to Hetherington, with the Foxes—who can win the Premier League by beating United at Old Trafford on Sunday—said to be willing to cash in. Hetherington claims he’s a “major target” for the Red Devils.

Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe feels as though Kante has been the best player in the Premier League this season:

Naturally, United would benefit from a footballer like him at the heart of their team. Kante can do it all, whether that be breaking up play and moving the ball on sensibly, or scything through the heart of the pitch with his loping stride and setting up attacks.

The former Caen man is a throwback and a footballer seemingly made for the English game. These figures from OptaJoe sum up his influence when it comes to the defensive side of the game:

Leicester will do their utmost to preserve the core of players, which seems set to push them to the title, and many would argue Kante is the most important of the lot. Nevertheless, £30 million is a huge amount of money for any team.

The Red Devils have a lot of handy central midfield players, but none of them are as capable of having such a wide-ranging influence on matches like Kante. Given the standards he’s showcased so regularly this term, you’d have to say if a deal can be done for the kind of sum aforementioned, it’d be fine business by the Red Devils.