With Manchester United a long way from recapturing the Premier League trophy they once almost took for granted, the club’s struggles to even secure a top-four finish this season suggest that it’s going to take more than just a few transfers to catch up to the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City.
However, the United squad needs quality reinforcements as soon as possible and to compete with Europe’s elite again they need to bring in proven talents who can perform straightaway. They’ll need deep pockets for transfer fees and wages, but paying extra for established stars that can have an immediate impact is more cost-effective than a cheaper alternative who won’t offer much of an upgrade on what they already have.
With that in mind, here are six players, aged 23 or younger, who would strengthen Man United’s team immediately. (All transfer values taken from Transfermarkt.)
Age: 23
Position: Centre-back/right-back
Club: Sevilla
With Chelsea out of the running while Russian owner Roman Abramovich’s assets have been frozen by the U.K. government, this summer might be the ideal time for United to move for Kounde as his contract expires in 2024.
For a team struggling to play out from the back because their current defensive line was not built for that purpose, Kounde would be an ideal acquisition. Few top-level European centre-backs can match the France international’s ability to pick the right pass while under pressure, and Sevilla have configured their team to suit his eagerness to bring the ball out of defence and join in further up the pitch.
In the defensive phase, his mental quickness and ability to read danger allows him to make early interceptions. Though still relatively untried in the position, there’s also no reason why Kounde shouldn’t be able to perform to a high standard at right-back as well. United’s defensive woes are not restricted to the heart of the defence and it may prove useful to sign a versatile player who can assist on the right as…
Source : espn
