Former Manchester United first team coach Rene Meulensteen has said that Sir Alex Ferguson viewed Ilkay Gundogan as the perfect player to fill the void left by Paul Scholes' retirement.
Ferguson, who retired from management in 2013, was looking at Gundogan to fill that midfield role. The midfielder eventually joined Manchester City in 2016, becoming Pep Guardiola's first signing.
The former Red Devils' coach also said that apart from the German, United were also keeping a keen eye on his countryman and club teammate, winger Marco Reus.
Eventually, with Ferguson deciding to end his management career, United chose to appoint David Moyes, who had other midfielders like Thiago Alcantara and Cesc Fabregas in his mind.
Rene Meulensteen has revealed Sir Alex Ferguson was looking at Ilkay Gundogan as a Paul Scholes replacement at United.
— City Watch (@City_Watch) September 13, 2018
Meulensteen: "We were looking at Gundogan - someone similar [to Scholes] - who could keep ticking the ball over, thinks quick and has tempo." [Evening Standard] pic.twitter.com/2shp0GtnX9
Speaking to the Evening Standard, Meulensteen said, "