Sir Alex Ferguson said Liverpool star Steven Gerrard would be an ideal replacement for Roy Keane.
Ferguson is a huge admirer of Gerrard's all-action style
The Manchester United boss said he rates the England star even more highly than Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira.
"He has become the most influential player in England, bar none. Not that Vieira lacks anything, but Gerrard does more," Ferguson told the Sunday Times.
"To me, Gerrard is Keane. He is where Keane was when Roy came to us in 1993. Everywhere the ball is, he is there."
Ferguson would not be drawn on whether he would consider bidding for Gerrard, merely commenting that such a transfer would be "complicated".
But the Scot said any team in the world would like to have Gerrard in their team.
"He's got that unbelievable engine, desire, determination. Anyone would take Gerrard," he said.
"Vieira has done that job for Arsenal for two or three years. But you can see Gerrard rising and rising."