Manchester United want a centre-half and a £25m caped crusader fits the bill. Pep Guardiola fancies Marc Cucurella. Dele Alli is off again.
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It is described by Football Insider as ‘a sensational twist’ but it could ultimately amount to little more than a sensible deal. The problem is that Manchester United are the ones orchestrating it, with the Premier League club hoping to hijack AC Milan’s £25m deal for Lille centre-half Sven Botman.
POW!
The 22-year-old’s name came up during the recent meeting between Erik ten Hag, John Murtough, Mitchell van der Gaag and Steve McClaren, with the incoming manager a particular ‘admirer of the left-sided centre-back’.
BOFF!
Botman actually came through the Ajax ranks, joining Lille in 2020 and winning Ligue Un in his first season. His second campaign has been less successful but Lille’s record when he starts is 1.63 points per game, in comparison to 1.15 when he doesn’t.
KAPOW!
Newcastle have previously been linked but Fabian Schar is mint now and so Manchester United have commenced ‘preliminary talks’ over Botman.
THWAPP!
MARC OF THE MAN
In the realm of logical transfers, Marc Cucurella to Manchester City might be king. Brighton double their money in the space of a single season. The 23-year-old steps up and has the chance to add to his 2020 Summer Olympics silver medal. Pep Guardiola finally has a left-back he can rely upon.
Joao Cancelo, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Nathan Ake – a right-back, an attacking midfielder and a centre-half – have filled in for Guardiola, who ‘wants a more orthodox left-back to provide balance’. But the Daily Mail do point out that Cucurella’s ability to play as a wide midfielder is another tick to his name.
Brighton would want at least £30m for their Player of the Season. Manchester City, who have already signed Erling Haaland for literally all the money, are also targeting a central midfielder.
🗣️ Marc…
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