Manchester United are looking to bring in defensive reinforcements this summer as part of the impending rebuild at Old Trafford.
When Manchester United decided to replace Erik ten Hag with Ruben Amorim, it came with the expectation that a squad revamp would be needed, considering the difference in systems.
Due to this, United are said to be preparing to axe at least 10 different players from the club for a variety of reasons, with some contracts expiring and others in line to be sold.
With all of the impending outgoings, United are thought to have four priority positions to strengthen this summer, one of which is central defence, which is likely to see at least two departures as Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof will be released.
As usual with Ineos, the players linked with replacing this duo have been young talents with supreme potential. However, now a slightly more established and expensive option has been suggested.
Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images
Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images
Oumar Solet emerges as a Manchester United target
United are supposedly battling Bayern Munich for Yusuf Akcicek, with the Jose Mourinho-endorsed wonderkid enjoying an impressive breakout campaign.
However, reports in Italy have suggested that Udinese’s Oumar Solet is emerging as another option for United.
It is according to Messaggero Veneto, which claims that United have joined West Ham in having a keen interest in signing the Udinese centre-back who only arrived in January.
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Due to sensational form in the Serie A, his club are already looking for replacements in expectation of interest arriving for Solet as United and the Hammers are both attracted to the defender.
Solet would command a fee of around £33 million this summer as the Italian side seems keen to cash in on their prized asset with a fee rising every week due to performances.
However, paying so much would come across slightly embarrassing, considering he was available for free in January. Solet was a free agent after last summer, only joining Udinese on January 1st, which is a deal Ineos will be wishing they had done.
Oumar Solet plays like Alessandro Bastoni
Links to Solet are different to other centre-back targets this summer, as he is 25 opposed to a teenager and, therefore, should really be touching his prime years at this point.
However, despite impressive form for Udinese, which has seen him compared with Alessandro Bastoni and Nico Schlotterbeck by FBRef, prior to recent months, he was hardly pulling up roots.
Oumar Solet stats vs other centre-backs in top five leagues
Stat Per 90 Percentile
Tackles 1.77 73rd percentile
Interceptions 1.04 42nd percentile
Blocks 1.88 93rd percentile
Clearances 3.86 32nd percentile
Shot-creating action 1.67 97th percentile
Pass completion 89.8% 77th percentile
Progressive passes 3.34 53rd percentile
Progressive carries 0.94 80th percentile
Successfull take-ons 1.57 99th percentile
Aerials won 1.04 5th percentile
We would like to assume that Ineos have transfer specialists in place and so would not sign a player based on a few months as a centre-back in Italy – which is a very unreliable insight into whether a player can perform in the Premier League.
Signing Solet for such a huge transfer fee is risky, despite how good he looks on paper. So we would much prefer a younger player to arrive, costing likely half or less the price Solet would.