Manchester United want to strengthen their defense in the upcoming winter transfer window and they are linked with more than a few quality central defenders.
Few days back, Duncan Castles (The Daily Record) reported that Jose Mourinho has proposed to move for Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly.
More recently, La Repubblica have reported that the Portuguese boss is insistent on signing the Senegalese defender and Man Utd would be ‘willing’ to pay 90 million euros (£79m) to secure his signing.
Read: £20million star ‘keen’ to agree Man United move
However, the Italian outlet have mentioned that such an offer from United will be rejected by the Italian giants, who value their prized asset at over 100 million euros.
As per other reports going on in the media, the Red Devils are also linked with Chelsea’s Gary Cahill (The Express) and Atletico Madrid’s Diego Godin (The Daily Star).
TFF’s view:
Mourinho has mainly utilized the likes of Lindelof and Smalling in his central defense this season. Rojo and Jones have mostly been out of the squad and Bailly’s poor form has moved him down the pecking order.
In the current campaign, the Old Trafford club have regularly leaked goals and they badly need a defensive leader in the team. United have a goal difference of minus 1 after 12 Premier League fixtures and they are virtually out of the title race.
As far as the options are concerned, Cahill will turn 33 next month. He is past his best and has only warmed the bench for the Blues under the management of Sarri. On the other hand, Godin is still in top form but he will turn 33 in February. If United sign either Godin or Cahill in January, then they could be looking for another center half in the summer transfer window.
Therefore, to fix things at the back once and for all, Mourinho should sign a center half, who could serve the club in the long run and Koulibaly, who is at the peak of his game, perfectly fits the bill.
The 27-year-old star is the leader of Carlo Ancelotti’s defense and the Italian boss would want to hold on to his prized asset, who is one of the best center backs in the world. The African star has got pace, physical strength and tactical intelligence and United must do whatever it takes to get his signing done.