Manchester United finally set eyes on Paul Pogba replacement

Manchester United may have finally found their man to replace Paul Pogba.

According to recent reports, Manchester United and Liverpool are set to battle it out for the signature of Ecuadorian international and Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo.

This news comes after a stellar performance with his national team in Qatar, as Erik Ten Hag’s search for a progressive midfielder to partner Casemiro rages on.

The Brighton talisman has been on the Red Devils’ radar back in the 2021 January transfer window however, the deal fell due to problems related to work permits.

Caicedo began his career in the Ecuadorian league with Independiente del Valle, coming through the youth ranks at the club and forcing his way into the team at the tender age of just 17.

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He also became part of the team that won the Copa Sudamericana and also lifted the Under-20 Copa Libertadores.

Caicedo has become a commanding midfield presence during their two-year South American qualifying campaign and is set to spearhead Ecuador’s successful generation change.

His early days saw him as a holding midfielder mainly, but he has developed into a box-to-box midfielder in recent times.

He’s an aggressive tackler and fierce competitor, possessing a monstrous mentality in both attacking and defensive phases.

Paired alongside Alexis Mac Allister, the Ecuadorian international has enjoyed an 85% passing accuracy rate and also 2.79 tackles per 90, ranking him in the 86th percentile.

As an excellent and proactive presser, Caicedo remains key to the process of winning back the ball all the way up the pitch for the Seagulls.

The 21-year-old has also won 65% of his aerial duels, making him an imposing force at the heart of Brighton’s midfield.

Caicedo is a versatile player with significant physical and technical potential.

The young maestro is pretty comfortable on the ball and could pretty easily slot in alongside Casemiro.

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It is very unlikely that Brighton will let him leave for cheap though. The Seagulls have quoted a price of £85million which is likely to deter interest from many top clubs.

However, Caicedo has spoken openly about his desire to play for Manchester United which will offer the Red Devils hope that he can be tempted to move to Old Trafford.

Speaking to Mundo Deportivo back in May, “My dream is to arrive at Manchester United.”

The midfielder has also spoken of his admiration for Paul Pogba and admitted the former United man “has a playing style which I like a lot”.

Bringing in Caicedo would definitely elevate Manchester United’s midfield options however, it would be interesting to see how Erik Ten Hag goes about his transfer business in January with the club potentially up for sale.