Breaking news: Manchester United sign bundesliga fastest midfielder.

 Manchester United are unlikely to consider

 even making a move for Declan Rice this 

transfer window, West Ham would not 

even pick up the phone to negotiate 

mid-season.

One club who are willing to do a deal 

for their key midfielder is Borussia 

Munchenglabach, report BIld, with Denis

 Zakaria entering the final few months 

of his contract.

The mirror report Zakaria has emerged

 as a top target for United and cite his price

 at £25 million.

In reality, Zakaria could end up costing 

far less, with ‘Gladbach keen to avoid losing

 him on a free transfer in the summer.

A previous report from Realest blog citing

 interest from Juventus claimed Zakaria 

could be sold for as little as £8.5 million 

in January.

Two years ago Zakaria told the Bundesliga

: “I’ve been compared to [Patrick] Vieira 

and [Paul] Pogba – two more players I 

really respect and, in a way, see as role 

models. When I watch videos of them I 

think I’d like to play that way.”

The Switzerland international is 25 and 

has been a regular in the Bundesliga this 

season, although his form has been mixed.

He was the star man in a win over Borussia

 Dortmund, in which he scored the winner

 and outplayed Jude Bellingham. But there

 have been lows too, with his side on the 

wrong end of a 6-0 thrashing against surprise

 package Freiburg, who sit third in the 

division.

In Zakaria’s favour is the fact United

 manager Ralf Rangnick will know him 

well from his time in the Bundesliga. The 

midfielder also stands at 6ft 3″ tall, fitting 

the interim boss’ desire to sign a midfielder

 with height, reported by The athletic .

Data from Reslest ranks Zakaria in the 

top 10 for pass completion in the Bundesliga

, with 90 per cent of his passes completed 

this season. This shows a refreshing trait, 

with United’s players struggling to retain 

possession in games on a weekly basis.

Off the ball Zakaria has blocked 36 shots

 this season, which ranks in the top five 

in the league, while also averaging more 

than  two interceptions per game at 2.19. 

The highest among United players is 1.

3 per game.

Just these two traits alone, with Zakaria’s

 passing and defensive alertness, shows 

what he could bring to United’s team.

Stats from Bundesliga.com show Denis 

Zakaria as the sixth fastest player in the 

Bundesliga this season with a top pace 

of 35.62 km/h.

All five players in front of him are strikers

 or defenders, with Zakaria ranking as the

 fastest midfielder in the division.

Part of the reason United’s midfield has

 been neglected and got into the state it is 

in, was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s desire to 

wait on dream signings – who may never 

arrive. 

Declan Rice was his preference, so United

 did not sign anybody else, with an aim 

to try again next summer.

So instead United have had to play another

 half season with a depleted midfield, instead

 of signing a second or third choice. The 

likes of Ruben Neves and Yves Bissouma 

would have been outstanding additions instead

 of Rice, and United bought neither.

Zakaria would give United an instant 

upgrade, and at a price potentially of under

 £10 million, this is a deal the club should 

be looking at seriously.

United may still need another midfielder

 or two, with Donny van de Beek clearly 

not rated, and Paul Pogba on his way out.

A move for Zakaria could be the easiest 

move United do this month, with Amadou 

Haidara off at the AFCON with Mali.

Ralf Rangnick showed a real eye for a bargain

 at RB Leipzig, and its hard to believe he 

is happy with the options he has seen at 

United so far. Zakaria would fit in with his 

philosophy.