Manchester United are reportedly keeping a close eye on Hicham Boudaoui, with club scouts in attendance to watch Nice and Algerian midfielder during his recent international appearance against Sweden.
United’s new manager, Ruben Amorim, is said to be eager to strengthen his midfield options ahead of the 2025/26 season, especially with Christian Eriksen set to depart and uncertainty surrounding Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo.
According to The Sun, Amorim is “desperate” to bring in players with a more physical and dynamic profile, and Boudaoui fits that mould.
The 25-year-old is coming off an impressive season with OGC Nice in Ligue 1, where he was statistically one of the top performers in his position. DataScout metrics from April highlighted Boudaoui as the fastest sprinter among 49 defensive midfielders, fourth in the number of accelerations, and sixth in high-intensity distance covered.
Manchester United’s growing interest in Boudaoui aligns with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s strategy of tapping into the INEOS-owned Nice setup. However, any potential deal may be delayed due to UEFA’s restrictions on transfers between clubs involved in the same European competitions, a rule that affects both United and Nice following their qualification for the Europa League.
Boudaoui is the second Nice player linked with a move to Old Trafford this summer, following reports that United are also eyeing goalkeeper Marcin Bułka, who is available for £12.8 million as he enters the final year of his contract.
With Amorim and the new Director of Football, Jason Wilcox working to rebuild the squad, United’s pursuit of Boudaoui signals a move toward younger, high-energy players who can inject pace and intensity into a midfield that looked sluggish last season.
