'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Manchester United should be in for a proper transfer window this time around after a horror show last summer. Ed Woodward failed to deliver some very important targets, due to which the team now tends to suffer at times even now.
However, with Ole Gunnar Solksjaer having brought a sense of stability and positivity around the club, the management now should look to back him up with his desired transfer targets so that the Norwegian can fill the gaping holes in the squad. One of the areas where the board would look for players would be the fullback position.
With Antonio Valencia set to leave the club in the summer and Ashley Young on a spiral decline, United need to instill this spot with some much-needed youthful exuberance and better talent.
Trending
Currently, only Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot look like candidates to start consistently next season and this needs to change as the team requires some dire backups in that position.
Here, we look at three players whom Ed Woodward could possibly look at to solve this issue in the upcoming months.
#3 Jose Gaya
Jose Gaya represents Valencia in the LaLiga and has also played against United during their Champions League encounter earlier in the season. The 23-year-old seems to be a bright prospect, possessing bundles of energy and tactical acumen to slot in perfectly in the left-back position.
Luke Shaw has clearly been overworked this season and Gaya’s inclusion will allow the manager to rotate both the players and also experiment with a couple of different formations given the nature of the opposition.
The Spaniard can deliver some precise through-balls and has a mean left foot to put excellent crosses inside the box. Having played in the LaLiga, Gaya is surely more adept with different tactical instructions and is tenacious enough to deal with the seemingly tougher nature of the Premier League.
He can put some deliveries into the box at times, but is also quite able to link up efficiently with players from the left flank. His passing acumen is neat and incisive, which allows him to form good passing triangles in the left wing.
Due to seemingly lack of quality fullback options currently, United can look at Gaya as one of the options. However, there has probably not been any reliable rumor about this transfer and hence the possibility of the same remains quite low.
Also see : Fantasy Premier League , Fantasy Premier League Tips, EPL Transfer News
#2 Ricardo Pereira
Another interesting candidate for this slot - Ricardo Pereira plays for Leicester City and he must be adept in dealing with the physicality of the style of play in the Premier League by now.
The Portuguese international plays from the right flank and is capable of playing even much higher on the field if the situation demands the same.
He is someone who provides a definite threat on the other side of the pitch, with his crossing abilities and the tendency to even drift in, play a couple of passes before making another quick precise delivery inside the box through the inner channel.
He doesn’t compromise on his defensive duties despite his attacking prowess, as tackling is probably one of his strongest attributes. Pereira registers 3.6 tackles per match, in addition to 1.7 interceptions on an average too.
Pereira has already scored two goals and notched four assists in 28 Premier League appearances so far this season. He has quick feet and is level-headed enough to sense any offensive threat from the adversaries and thwart them accordingly.
Having already played in the Premiership, United should definitely consider him as a strong option as he can ably rotate with Dalot, who in turn likes to play as a right wing too at times.
#1 Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Aaron Wan-Bissaka has taken the EPL by storm with his extremely impressive and eye-catching performances whilst playing a right-sided fullback for Crystal Palace.
The Englishman is only 21 years of age, but has already shown glimpses of his immense talent, something that might propel the Red Devils to spend a fairly good amount of money to lure him to Old Trafford. Wan-Bissaka is particularly very strong from a defensive perspective.
He is a good reader of the game and tends to analyze and act appropriately, whenever the opposition tends to charge down his flank.
He is a strong tackler, a smart interceptor and clever enough to block the ball whenever required. His footwork is sumptuous, something that allows him to beat players who come against him in wider areas of the field.
Wan-Bissaka records 4 tackles, 2.2 interceptions and 3.3 clearances per game on an average. At his age, fullbacks tend to ignore their defensive responsibilities, but Wan-Bissaka does not do so and hence that speaks volumes of his maturity.
If Ole Gunnar Solkjaer is really looking to find a solution to this concern in his team, he might not have to look beyond London to find the perfect man for the same.
