Peter Schmeichel has used his platform to argue that Manchester United should look at Granit Xhaka before Sandro Tonali. His case is not built around glamour. It is built around leadership, reliability and a player he says would give the dressing room something it is missing.
Why Schmeichel wants Xhaka over Tonali
Schmeichel said United need at least two new central midfielders this summer, and he wants Xhaka to be one of them. He called the move "cheaper" and said, "What we don't have really is proper leadership." He also added that Xhaka would bring "a lot to the dressing room" and that United are "desperate for more leadership."
The other part of his argument is plain enough. Schmeichel said Xhaka can play "80 per cent of the games", which matters for a squad that is trying to rebuild without adding more uncertainty. He also questioned whether Tonali has done enough at Newcastle to justify the kind of hype that follows him around.
There is some footballing backing for the view too. Xhaka has a 7.27 Premier League rating for Sunderland, while Tonali's is 6.97. Xhaka has also already made 31 Premier League appearances and has 6 league goal contributions, so this is not just about leadership talk or reputation. It is a player who has been available and useful.
What Xhaka's Sunderland form says
Schmeichel has tied his argument directly to Xhaka's spell at Sunderland, where he said the midfielder has been "a revelation" since joining in the Premier League. Sunderland secured promotion via the Championship play-offs, and Xhaka has settled quickly enough to make the case feel less like nostalgia and more like a live football judgment.
His recent numbers support that view. In his last five Premier League outings, Xhaka's ratings were 7.9, 8.0, 6.5, 7.9 and 6.7. That run is uneven in the way most real performances are, but it still leaves two strong showings and a season average that sits above Tonali's.
Michael Carrick's record is part of the wider United picture too. He has won 10 of his 14 games in charge, and that has not removed the need for midfield recruitment. United's issue is not just form, it is profile. If they are bringing in at least two central midfielders, Schmeichel is making a very clear case that one of them should be a steadying presence rather than another headline signing.
Xhaka is not the shiny option, and that is the point. The numbers and the quote both point to a player who offers output, availability and a more obvious dressing-room edge than the more fashionable alternative. United can still chase upside elsewhere, but Schmeichel's argument for Xhaka is the more grounded one.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
