Sofyan Amrabat joined Man Utd from Fiorentina on deadline day (Picture: Getty)
Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf admits he wanted his old club to hijack Manchester United’s deal to sign Sofyan Amrabat on deadline day.
United’s summer-long pursuit of the Fiorentina star eventually came to a successful conclusion during the final hours of the transfer window.
The Red Devils have paid £8.5m (€10m) to take 27-year-old Amrabat on a season-long loan with an option to make the deal permanent for £21.4m (€25m).
Leboeuf, though, feels Amrabat would have been the perfect player to pair with Enzo Fernandez in Chelsea’s midfield and is irked that the Blues did not consider a move for the Moroccan international.
‘When I see those kind of players going to Manchester United… I often talk about Chelsea trying to find those experienced players in the middle of the park,’ Leboeuf told ESPN.
‘Why didn’t you think about that guy? He would have been the perfect player to pair with Enzo Fernandez.
‘Yeah they got Moises Caicedo, but for over £100m! I see that guy going to United on loan, he can then be bought for [a total fee of] £30m. That would have been a bargain.
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‘He was amazing for Morocco at the last World Cup. He has proven his talent. Why don’t Chelsea think of these guys?
‘He’s an experienced player. Why don’t Chelsea think of these kind of players?’
Chelsea have largely prioritised moves for young players in the Todd Boehly era, handing them long contracts in the hope that they develop into superstars.
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‘The perfect player to pair with Enzo Fernandez!’