Manchester United FC manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reportedly in the lookout of a left-footed centre-back to replace of Marcus Rojo. Rojo has been shipped out to his native Argentina on-loan after poor performances and injury problems at United. The Red Devils are linked with a couple of left-footed centre-backs, in Nathan Ake and Skriniar.
Maguire and Lindelof have done well as a pair, but they don’t compliment each other’s qualities. Maguire is good on the ball and has great aerial prowess, but is slow, thus Solskjaer wants a fast left-footed partner for Maguire. Solskjaer was seen talking to Ake after United’s match against Bournemouth and a move might be on the cards.
Ake has done well at Bournemouth this season and seems to be the only good player in a mediocre side. Bournemouth are a relegation-battling side, and might well get relegated from the Premier League this season looking at their poor form. Relegation would also mean that Nathan Ake would be available for about £25m, which would be very easy to pay for the Red Devils.
The other left-footed option in the market this season is Skriniar of Inter Milan, who will be available for about £50m. Skriniar is a proven centre-back and has done very well in the Italian Serie-A, and is ready for a move to the European giants. Skriniar is a better centre-half than Ake is, as he has also shown in the Champions League.
United have also been linked with Koulibaly of Napoli, who is right-footed though but is 29-years old. The Red Devils are reportedly planning on scooping Skriniar if they don’t get Koulibaly in the summer transfer window. Koulibaly is touted as one of the best centre-backs in the world and would cost about £70m, as reported earlier this month.
With the Red Devils looking for a centre-back, anyone of Koulibaly, Skriniar or Ake might end up at Old Trafford. Looking at the transfer fees linked with the players and the pandemic situation, United are more likely to get Ake. Come the summer transfer window, the Red Devils will surely busy and it will be interesting to see who they get at centre-back.
