Man Utd maintain talks to signal 57-cap star with identical agent as Mbeumo

Manchester United have engaged in talks to signal a brand new defender, having suffered a contemporary harm blow in the course of the worldwide break.

Noussair Mazraoui was withdrawn throughout Morocco’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier towards Lesotho on Tuesday, with the full-back seen holding his decrease again as he left the pitch.

The extent of the harm remains to be unknown, however will probably be a priority for Michael Carrick, contemplating harm issues are mounting up in defence, with various different gamers nonetheless on the remedy desk alongside Mazaroui.

In fact although, United’s defence has been removed from spectacular this season, and they’re but to maintain a clear sheet of their opening 5 Premier League matches, after failing to strengthen on the again in the course of the summer time switch window.

That’s regardless of Gary Neville calling for INEOS to usher in two new defenders earlier than the tip of the window, saying: “They have some individually first rate defenders, however there is not a again 4 there and when it begins to get put underneath stress and it begins to choose up a few accidents in the course of the season, it is going to allow you to down. Michael is aware of that proper now.

“If they might get a centre-back and a full-back earlier than the window closes, that may cease issues that we all know we will see.”

As such, it could be a savvy transfer for the Pink Devils to enhance their defence in the course of the January switch window, and so they have now been handed a golden alternative to signal a flexible defender.

Man Utd have interaction in talks to signal Jules Kounde

REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth

In keeping with a report from TEAMtalk, Man United have now engaged in talks to signal Jules Kounde, with intermediaries informing them the FC Barcelona defender is about to be accessible within the January switch window.

Nonetheless, there may be widespread curiosity from elsewhere, with Xabi Alonso personally eager to take the 57-cap France worldwide to Stamford Bridge, whereas he has additionally been supplied to the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester Metropolis.

There have been options the 27-year-old might be in line for a transfer to Saudi Arabia, however he would favor to stay in Europe, which might open the door for a transfer to Outdated Trafford, and there may be proof he could be a strong addition to Carrick’s squad.

Talking after Barcelona’s victory towards Paris Saint-Germain in August 2024, former Barca boss Xavi stated: “He’s the most effective defenders on the planet proper now. Stopping Mbappé was a collective effort. Kounde did superb towards Mbappé however Lamine [Yamal] additionally helped him quite a bit.”

Kounde, who’s able to enjoying at right-back and centre-back, was additionally an essential participant in La Liga final season, averaging 0.5 blocks per 90 throughout 30 appearances, which was the very best quantity in Hansi Flick’s squad.