Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has made waves since his introduction to managerial life at Old Trafford, but could look to further enhance the squad's prospects of success with a move for Lovro Majer this year.

The 25-year-old Croatian midfielder, plying his trade for Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais, has impressed since his move from homeland outfit Dinamo Zagreb in August 2021.

His exploits in France have caught the attention of Ten Hag and United technical director John Murtough, and according to prominent French outlet Jeunes Footeux, the playmaker is on the radar of the Red Devils and Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, with his creativity and dynamism leaving his suitors enamoured by the possibility of his prospective inclusion.

Man United yield the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Christian Eriksen in the attacking midfield role, but the flourishing Majer, who was valued at €60m (£53m) late last year, could prove to add the depth and additional sprinkling of quality required to cement the club's resurgent stature at the forefront of the division.

Imagine him & Eriksen

Majer has made 24 appearances for Rennes this season from his central deployment, scoring two goals and serving three assists as the side look to record a respectable finish in the league, currently five points behind third-placed Olympique Marseille.

And the levels of his performances across his two seasons with his current outfit have been remarkable; as per Sofascore, the ace recorded an average match rating of 7.13 last term, starring with his flair and guile, registering six goals and eight assists from just 21 starts.

This season, Majer has maintained a respectable rating of 6.86, averaging one shot and one key pass each outing, completing 85% of his passes and never shirking from his defensive duties with 1.1 tackles each time he takes to the field.

And as per FBref, the graceful gem ranks superbly across a melange of statistics, encapsulating the whole gamut of attributes necessary to prosper at the top of the game; ranking among the top 7% of midfielders in Europe's big five leagues for rate of goals and the top 8% for rate of assists, his direct threat is illuminated.

Perhaps more impressively, the 18-cap star ranks within the top 5% for shot-creating actions and the top 7% for dribbles completed, further bolstering his chances at earning a move to one of Europe's most prestigious outfits - such is the all-encompassing nature of his play.

He could forge a deadly partnership with Eriksen, whom Ten Hag landed on a free transfer last summer; having made 29 appearances this season, the Danish dynamo has been superb, scoring twice and serving nine assists, prospering as an experienced deep-lying playmaker with his assured and progressive approach.

With the 30-year-old's stability and supreme ball-playing prowess, Majer could learn from his positional peer and grow into a deadly and refined force.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig hailed the machine as "simply phenomenal", suggesting he has been "on fire" following his performances for Rennes, and he could bring this world-class calibre to the Theatre of Dreams to great effect as Ten Hag seeks clarity over the club's ability to compete for major honours once again after failing to clinch a trophy since winning the Europa League in 2017.

The versatility of the dynamic midfielder is indeed one of the highlight attributes, setting him apart from potential positional rivals, and the deal, if it is indeed struck in the coming period, could prove to be a match made in heaven for the Red Devils as the reconstruction of the squad continues its development.