Man Utd and Arsenal chasing £53m UCL defender who they've scouted ahead of January transfer window
Man United, Liverpool and Arsenal have all reportedly scouted the same UCL defender ahead of the January transfer window.
Manchester United are looking ahead to the January transfer window with a lot of optimism, as they are currently just one point off the top four, and on a five-game unbeaten run after drawing to Tottenham last weekend.
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United are likely to target the midfield in January, as they are looking for a long-term replacement for Casemiro. Elliot Anderson has been named as their first-choice target for the position.
However, as they are set to lose Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui to AFCON in December and January, United may also look to add a full-back to strengthen Ruben Amorim’s defensive depth, and it seems that they are considering a Champions League star alongside Liverpool and Arsenal.
Man Utd, Liverpool and Arsenal scouting Wilfred Singo
According to fresh reports from the Turkish media, Man United are amongst a group of Premier League clubs scouting Galatasaray defender Wilfred Singo, who has impressed in the Champions League so far this season. Turkish news outlet Sabah has said that United, alongside Liverpool and Arsenal, are keen to add the 24-year-old in January after being impressed whilst scouting him in recent weeks.
Singo is a right-back who can also play as a centre-back, and the report says that he has a £52m release clause in his contract at Galatasaray. However, it does also say that, despite the fact that the Istanbul club signed him in the summer, they could be prepared to sell him in January for £44m, if he wanted to leave for a Premier League club.
So far this season, Singo has made nine appearances for Galatasaray in all competitions, providing one assist. He is more of a defensive full-back, and so more similar to the likes of Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot, rather than Mazraoui and Diallo. He would likely play in United’s back three rather than a wing-back, which could allow for Shaw to help replace Diallo and Mazraoui when they leave for AFCON next month.
How could United line up during AFCON?
Assuming that United manage to get a deal over the line and sign Singo from Galatasaray, Amorim would be able to play him as either the right-wing-back, or on the right of his three defenders.
If he were to do that, he would likely start Matthijs De Ligt and Leny Yoro alongside in a back three, or Lisandro Martinez when he returns from his ACL injury, hopefully before Christmas. If that were to be the back three, Amorim would likely look to Patrick Dorgu, Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw to play as the wing-backs.
Dorgu and Dalot would likely be the first choice, as they have both played the more attacking role under Amorim on several occasions so far. However, Shaw used to be more of an attacking full-back at Southampton before he joined United, so who is to say he couldn’t fill that wide role too?
Not to mention that United also have summer signing Diego Leon, who is yet to make an appearance for the Red Devils this season. He has been impressing for the U21s and is likely to get his breakthrough over the Winter.