Former defender John O’Shea believes that Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips should be move to Old Trafford rather than agree a transfer with .
The England international has been heavily linked with a switch to the Etihad Stadium, with ’s side set to lose captain Fernandinho on a free transfer this summer, leaving them with a hole in their squad at the base of midfield.
United, meanwhile, require midfield reinforcements of their own with set to depart for free and Nemanja Matic having joined AS Roma.
That leaves Fred and Scott McTominay as the team’s senior midfielders, but neither overly impressed last season as the club finished sixth in the Premier League.
The Red Devils have reportedly been in discussions with Barcelona about a potential £70m for Netherlands internal Frenkie De Jong, who used to play under Ten Hag at previous club Ajax, but O’Shea believes that Phillips should be targeted too.
‘Despite links to Man City, should think about the other side of Manchester!’, O’Shea told .
‘He has done well for England and really well for Leeds and I know it would create more controversy if he headed for the red side of Manchester but it’s definitely an area that United would be looking at.’
Former Republic of Ireland captain O’Shea won five Premier League titles, one FA Cup and one UEFA Champions League in a 12-year spell at Old Trafford, and insists that the arrival of marquee midfielder could reinvigorate the United dressing room.
‘There’s also Declan Rice or even N’Golo Kanté,’ O’Shea added. ‘If United could get one of those three in, it’d be a big boost for everyone in the club.’
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