Signing N'Golo Kante would be another gamble for Manchester United, but Etik ten Hag should take it

Rumours suggest that Erik ten Hag is prioritising the signing of N’Golo Kante from Chelsea — a fine player but one who represents another gamble. United have not fared well with their signings of veterans. Edinson Cavani has given the club one good half-season, before cutting a frustrated figure unable to properly influence the game.

Bastian Schweinsteiger arrived, promptly showing why he was better suited to life playing MLS in Chicago. Nemanja Matic is well liked, it appears, but he offers nothing on the pitch. Alexis Sanchez was an absolute disaster.

Ad/> You can make an exception, of course, for the exceptional Cristiano Ronaldo. But for the most part players arrive at United and then start or continue their decline. It is not a phenomenon unusual to the club, but under Alex Ferguson, he generally got his guesses right.

Robin van Persie’s last hurrah won a Premier League and his new manager’s retirement, Laurent Blanc had a rocky start but a title-winning finish, and Teddy Sheringham helped lead the forward line to secure a treble. TransfersMan City give United boost in chase for De Jong — Paper RoundYESTERDAY AT 22:04 When things are going well, the mind can transcend the rigours of the body and a new setting can be invigorating, but a club in freefall can exacerbate those who are already physically tired and aching. The gamble for United’s incoming manager is whether or not he believes he can not just arrest the club’s decline, but if he can improve the atmosphere to the point that he can give Kante a few more years of enthusiasm.