Antonio Valencia urges Manchester United to sign £115m Chelsea star

Former Manchester United defender Antonio Valencia (Picture: Getty)

Antonio Valencia has urged his former Manchester United teammate Michael Carrick to target a PSG defender this summer and make an audacious move for Chelsea midfielder’s Moises Caicedo .

Carrick is hoping to bolster his United squad this summer following a promising start to his Old Trafford tenure.

The 44-year-old’s return to Manchester United was only expected to be temporary but United’s superb finish to the season saw him named Ruben Amorim ’s permanent replacement.

United are set to make Brazil’s Ederson their first summer signing after agreeing a £35m deal with Serie A side Atalanta .

But Ederson will be just the first of possibly three new midfielders to arrive at Old Trafford to compensate for Casemiro’s departure and Manuel Ugarte’s likely exit.

The Red Devils have expressed interest in Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes, Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba.

But Manchester United hero Valencia has urged his former club to launch a stunning move for Chelsea’s £115m midfielder Caicedo.

Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo (Picture: Getty)

Caicedo has been one of the best midfielders in the Premier League over the past four seasons and is believed to be ‘untouchable’ in regards of a summer sale .

Valencia wants United to test Chelsea’s resolve, however, and says he would form an ‘incredible partnership’ with Kobbie Mainoo.

He told Hajper : ‘For me, I would love Moises Caicedo to come and play alongside Mainoo at Manchester United.

‘They could form an incredible partnership. Mainoo could play a little freer, with Caicedo more central. I think it would be an impressive partnership.

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick (Picture: Getty)

‘Moises has incredible intensity. He plays the 90 minutes at the same rhythm. He does not get tired, he is physically strong, he has good technique and a good shot. He attacks well and defends well.

‘If you put him alongside a player like Mainoo, who has a good touch in midfield, I think it would be a fantastic partnership. I would love Moises to come to Manchester United.’

Caicedo is not the only player Valencia recommended to former teammate Carrick, with PSG defender Willian Pacho another who could be a ‘very important signing’ for United.

Pacho was not a guaranteed starter for Luis Enrique last season but still helped PSG retain both the Ligue 1 title and the Champions League trophy .

Willian Pacho holding the Champions League trophy (Picture: Getty)

‘For me, I would bring in two players right now,’ Valencia, who won two Premier League titles, added. ‘They are young, they have been improving, and they could play for Manchester United for 10 years.

‘One would be Pacho, the left-sided centre-back. He is tall, fast, good in the air and has good vision. And then Moises Caicedo.

‘For me, those two signings would be very important for Manchester United.’

Valencia ultimately believes ‘three or four top signings’ can make United genuine title contenders for the first time in more than a decade.

‘Michael Carrick has been a very intelligent coach. He has been building something, and it has not been easy,’ Valencia added.

‘Now we are back in the Champions League. We had spent a long time away from that competition, so now it is important to keep competing with the big teams.

‘If United get three or four top signings I think they will start well. This club likes winning trophies so hopefully this summer they can make big signings and compete again like they did in the old days.’