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Ruben Amorim wants to sign a striker this summer | Manchester United via Getty Images
Manchester United have been scouting a promising young centre-back this summer.
Ruben Amorim’s transfer plans this summer is all surrounding on a squad rebuild, where he hopes to turn around the fortunes at Old Trafford following a 15th-place finish in the Premier League last season.
Leny Yoro, Chido Obi-Martin and Ayden Heaven are among the young talents that Man United could rely on in the future. It seems that they are making an effort to add similar young talents this summer, as Amorim looks to improve the young core of his squad.
Man United interest beaten down by Eivind Helland
One similar name to the likes of Obi-Martin, Heaven and Yoro has been linked to is Norway U21s international Eivind Helland, who is well-regarded as a future star in his country, but at this stage, he is fairly unknown in the rest of Europe. He plays for the Eliteserien side SK Brann.
According to a report by Norwegian outlet VG, Man United watched the 20-year-old live in a match against Viking on Sunday, and the defender played the full 90 minutes in a 3-1 win for Brann. He was quoted after the match when asked about interest from the Red Devils. Helland said: “I haven’t thought much about it [Manchester United]. That’s just the way it is. That’s how the football world is. I’m very calm about it. I feel very comfortable here, and my plan is to stay here. No, I’m going to play really well with Brann.”
It seems like for now, the 20-year-old is planning to stay at Brann, despite the fact that the interest from United seems concrete, and it could propel his career to the next level.
Who is Eivind Helland?
The 20-year-old plays as a centre-back, but he is versatile and can also feature as a defensive midfielder or a right-back. He would be very comfortable in the back three system that Amorim likes to play at Man United.
Helland’s agents describe him on their website as “one of the most promising young defenders” in Norway. They also say “he combines the traits every team looks for in a modern centre-back. Almost impossible to beat in one-on-one situations and already recognised for his leadership, he continues to grow into the future heart of Norway’s defence.”
So far this season, Helland has made 15 appearances for Brann, providing an assist too. The 20-year-old has a current market value of around £3m, and with an imposing stature of 6’3, he could prove to become a dominant defender if he can live up to his potential in the future.
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