Teamwork makes the dream work

Man Utd now maintain talks over signing £12k-p/w defender who Ratcliffe is aware of

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Co have seemingly recognized Manchester United’s first summer season signing, with inner talks being held over a transfer to Previous Trafford on the finish of the season.

Ten Hag’s defensive woes proceed

It has been one other season to overlook on the Theatre of Goals this season. At the moment sixth within the Premier League, they had been fortunate to flee with some extent in opposition to Brentford after conceding over 30 pictures of their final outing and look sure to overlook out on Champions League soccer subsequent season.

Additionally they completed backside of their Champions League group, and have turned in a number of dreadful performances below Erik ten Hag.

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Man Utd contemplating summer season transfer for “distinctive” attacking ace

The Crimson Devils goal scored on the 2022 World Cup.

Nonetheless, they’re within the semi-final of the FA Cup, the place they are going to face one in all Manchester Metropolis or Chelsea within the ultimate supplied they make it previous Coventry Metropolis. An enormous subject for the Crimson Devils has been their backline. Tyrell Malacia hasn’t featured this season, whereas Luke Shaw has solely appeared 12 occasions within the Premier League.

Lisandro Martinez has additionally spent a big interval of the season on the sidelines, and on Monday it was revealed that each he and Victor Lindelof are anticipated to overlook the subsequent month after selecting up accidents in opposition to the Bees.

It implies that because it stands, of Ten Hag’s out there defenders, solely Diogo Dalot has managed to play greater than 50% of the Premier League minutes out there this season, and far of that has been at left-back.

Manchester United’s defensive woes

Participant

Premier League minutes performed (out of 2700)

Lisandro Martinez

582

Harry Maguire

1199

Victor Lindelof

1329

Tyrell Malacia

0

Luke Shaw

963

Diogo Dalot

2364

Aaron Wan-Bissaka

975

Raphael Varane

1302

Jonny Evans

1085

Willy Kambwala

107

Clearly then, defence must be a precedence this summer season, and there are already studies of United concentrating on a centre-back earlier than the brand new season, however they’re additionally trying on the fullback spots.

Membership in talks with Bard

Now, dependable journalist Nizaar Kinsella has revealed that the Crimson Devils are holding inner talks over OGC Good left-back Melvin Bard. On the cusp of the French nationwide staff, Bard has loved a powerful season with the Ligue 1 outfit, beginning 25 occasions within the French high flight and serving to Good problem for a spot in subsequent season’s Champions League.

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - OGC Nice v RC Strasbourg - Allianz Riviera, Nice, France - December 5, 2021 RC Strasbourg's Ludovic Ajorque in action with OGC Nice's Melvin Bard REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

Kinsella says that Manchester United are making the left-back spot a “precedence” of their switch plans, after initially planning to signal a proper again, and that Bard is without doubt one of the choices that’s being given essentially the most consideration, with the OId Trafford outfit ‘in talks’ over a transfer for the defender.

It’s unclear how a lot the 23-year-old would set the Crimson Devils again, with Bard nonetheless having two years left to run on his Good contract and speak to ‘anticipated over a brand new, improved deal within the coming months’. The defender is valued at £10m by transfermarkt.

On simply £12,000 per week, his wage is unlikely to be an issue for United ought to they pursue a deal for the Frenchman, and on condition that Ratcliffe additionally owns Good, it’s unlikely {that a} transfer would have an excessive amount of problem in being accomplished ought to they agency up their curiosity.