Matt Monaghan's Manchester United Scouting Report: Marek Hamsik and Simon Kjaer are the cream of the Serie A crop

By Matt Monaghan

Sir Alex Ferguson would be signing potential “world class” performers with the pedigree to replace the old guard if he bought Marek Hamsik and Simon Kjaer, according to Goal.com Italy editor Carlo Garganese.

Garganese lavished praise on the "best young midfielder” - Napoli's Hamsik - and “best young defender” - Palermo's Kjaer - in Serie A and insisted they are well worth their sky high transfer fees.

Both players have been repeatedly linked with big money moves to Manchester United as Ferguson looks to spend some of his Cristiano Ronaldo windfall.

This is what Garganese had to say to Goal.com UK about United’s reported transfer targets…

The players

“[Marek] Hamsik is an attacking box-to-box central midfielder, and quite possibly the most complete midfielder in Serie A.

“He has great energy and covers all the ground. His best attribute is probably his late runs into the box - and I would compare him to Frank Lampard in his ability to burst forward unnoticed and score.

“His scoring record for a midfielder is quite magnificent. He has already scored seven goals in 13 league games this season, while for Slovakia he was instrumental in their qualification for the World Cup.

“[Simon] Kjaer is just 20 years old and I would already describe him as the best young defender in Serie A.

“He has everything required to be a world-class centre-back within a couple of years. He has pace, he is tall, he is great in the air, he is strong, mentally tough, and most impressively he reads the game superbly and is technically impressive bringing the ball out.

“Kjaer, I would say is worth around £15 million now. Hamsik…£25 million seems about right.”

England bound?

“Hamsik, I can't see him joining the English Premier League until summer 2010. He has stated repeatedly that he is happy at Napoli, and Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has also stated repeatedly that he is not for sale at any price.

“De Laurentiis is a very strong character, he has tough people surrounding him, and he has invested a lot into Napoli. I really can't see Hamsik leaving until 2011 at the very earliest.

“As for Kjaer, I think a move to the EPL is a definite possibility. Kjaer has come out in the press many times and said he dreams of playing in England, although Liverpool are his favourite club.

“Furthermore, Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini has always cashed in on star players once the big boys come calling with big money.

“The only sticking point is how Zamparini likes to do business. When he sells star players, he likes to do cash-plus-player exchanges. Therefore, it would suit Zamparini to sell Kjaer to, say, Juventus, for £10 million, and get two players as part of the exchange.”

Premier League pedigree

“I think both players have the necessary 'style' for the Premier League. These are two players who could adapt to any league - England, Italy or Spain.

“Do they have the necessary pedigree? Hamsik I believe is good enough to replace Paul Scholes right away. Manchester United's centre midfield is a weak area and Hamsik would strengthen it and have every possibility to go from strength to strength. With the intelligence of Wayne Rooney, I can see Hamsik scoring a lot of goals.

“As for Kjaer, he may still need another year. I think it may benefit him to stay at Palermo for one more year before joining a big club. Or were he to join United, it may be best to ease him in slowly and use him as the third-choice centre-back for a while before he cements his place as a regular.