MANCHESTER UNITED gave Bayern Munich free rein to sign Dayot Upamecano as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would prefer a left-footed centre-back to balance his defence.
ESPN claim United are seeking Harry Maguire’s perfect partner and have specific targets.
Three-cap Frenchman Dayot Upamecano is Bayern-bound after Man Utd backed out of the £37m race for the defenderCredit: AFP or licensors
RB Leipzig’s France star Upamecano will join Bayern this summer after the German champions agreed to pay his £37million release clause.
And BEFORE that deal was sealed United reportedly told the 22-year-old’s representatives they were backing out of a move.
Old Trafford boss Solskjaer has also been strongly been linked with Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane and Sevilla’s £61m-rated emerging talent Jules Kounde.
But these two Frenchmen are also right-footed.
And if United do persist in their pursuit of a left-footer then there seem few more than half-a-dozen options who might be considered ready to slot in straight away next season.
Solskjaer has largely chosen Victor Lindelof ahead of Eric Bailly this season, with fellow right-footer Maguire operating on the left of central defence.
Aston Villa’s England man-mountain Tyrone Mings, 27, is the obvious Premier League alternative for lefties.
But on the continent there would appear to be six main contenders.
Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti, 27, often linked with United over the past two seasons, tops the list of potential candidates with Bayern Munich’s David Alaba another stellar option.
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Others include Borussia Dortmund’s Dan-Axel Zagadou, 21, Villarreal’s Spain star Pau Torres, 24, and 26-year-old Italy defender Alessio Romagnoli, whose AC Milan side are second in Serie A.
A more ambitious target would be PSG’s Presnel Kimpembe.
The 25-year-old has won 13 France caps despite rivalry with the likes of Umtiti, Zagadou, Varane, Kounde – and of course Upamecano.
Solskjaer tells his Man Utd stars they are paid enough to cope with relentless fixture schedule
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
