Manchester United have been handed a boost in their chase for Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly, according to Freddie Keighley of the Mirror.
Manchester United Handed Boost in Kalidou Koulibaly Chase
Red Devils are Looking for Another Central Defender
Manchester United are looking for another centre-back after signing Harry Maguire for a record £80 million last summer.
The Englishman arrived from Leicester City and, while he did not immediately settle, now looks to have their defence under control with the Red Devils having kept four clean sheets in their last five Premier League games while conceding just twice in their last 11 in all competitions.
United recently gave Maguire the honour of becoming their captain, and they will be looking for someone to partner the new skipper. Currently, Victor Lindelof is a regular alongside him, with Eric Bailly also returning to the starting team after injury.
Neither of these have managed to established long runs of good form in the starting XI, so United will look to bring in another centre-back to help in their rebuild.
Koulibaly is certainly an option, and his joining the Red Devils seems a possibility, but with interest from elsewhere and United’s focus on different positions, the timing may not work.
Not a Top Priority?
Centre-back is not the most pressing issue at Manchester United this summer. The Red Devils are lacking a right-winger, with Marcus Rashford as their established left-sided attacker and Anthony Martial looking to solidify himself as their striker. Right-wing, however, is still an issue.
Jadon Sancho is their biggest focus this summer, but with his services reportedly costing nine figures from Borussia Dortmund, United may not have enough to fund a big-money move for Napoli’s Senegalese centre-back.
Manchester United Handed the Boost
According to the Mirror’s report, and Il Mattino, the defender is ‘ready to leave [Napoli] this summer’. This gives United a huge boost, with the English giants one of the frontrunners in the race for his signature. Although the timing may not be right, Koulibaly’s willingness to leave could give United a discounted price, allowing them to sign him this summer.
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