Man Utd add left-back likened to Nuno Mendes to five-man January shortlist hours before Aston Villa match
Manchester United have drafted a five-man shortlist to resolve their left-back woes in January, and one of their latest targets has been compared to Paris Saint-Germain superstar Nuno Mendes.
The left-back position has caused Michael Carrick a major headache at the start of this season. After being left with only Luke Shaw as his most natural, senior option in that position following a disappointing summer, he was dealt a major blow when Shaw suffered an injury against Tottenham Hotspur on October 10.
Since then, United have used three different players in that role, with Noussair Mazraoui, Ayden Heaven and Diogo Dalot exposing the problem rather than resolving it. Unsurprisingly, ahead of the January transfer window, Jason Wilcox and Christopher Vivell are stepping up their search to land a left-sided defender.
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Man Utd target Mahamadou Nagida compared to PSG's Nuno Mendes
TEAMtalk's Graeme Bailey reported on November 7 that Rennes defender Mahamadou Nagida has emerged as a 'serious option' after his performances offered encouragement to the club during a series of scouting missions.
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United have watched Nagida extensively during Europa League clashes against Juventus and Olympiacos, where the 21-year-old's athleticism, willingness to get forward, and defensive work rate all impressed.
The Cameroon international is blossoming into one of the most promising full-backs in Ligue 1 and has already provided two assists in five league starts this term, demonstrating his quality in the final third.
Nagida was identified in the Ecole de Football Brasseries du Cameroun academy before making the move to France, with his high energy, speed, and attacking prowess earning him comparisons to arguably the world's best left-back, Nuno Mendes.
"The Portuguese is on another level in a very broad register, but it does resemble him a little," his former coach Frederic Antonetti told L'Equipe when asked about the precocious talent, adding that the youngster has explosiveness, speed, and a good left foot and "everything needed to progress".
Nagida's impressive stats also paint a clear picture of the comparison, as he ranks in the top 10 per cent of Ligue 1 players this term for line-breaking passes (FotMob), the top eight per cent for successful dribbles and the top seven per cent for assists.
The Rennes starlet is equally proficient defensively, placing in the top 14 per cent for defensive contributions and the top seven per cent for interceptions, evincing his ability to defend in one-versus-one situations.
Man Utd's five-man left-back shortlist
Comparisons to Mendes will fill United fans with confidence that Nagida is the answer to their left-back problems - if they sign him - but he isn't the only player on their shortlist.
As per TEAMtalk, Barcelona's Alejandro Balde remains on their radar after the Spanish giants decided against offloading him in the summer. RB Leipzig's David Raum has also impressed scouts with his performances.
They're joined by Club Brugge's Joaquin Seys and Bournemouth's Adrien Truffert, who have also attracted attention. Racing Santander's Jorge Salinas is equally known to have caught the eye during the club's scouting work, though the 19-year-old is likely one for the future.
United ultimately need to sign someone with the present and future in mind, and the breadth of names under consideration highlights the scale of the recruitment operation being undertaken by Wilcox and Vivel.
Topics: Transfer News, Man Utd
Thomas Griffin
