Manchester United are interested in signing RB Leipzig defender Nordi Mukiele, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to add a new right-back to his squad.
The Red Devils spent heavily in the past summer transfer window, signing the likes of Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo. Yet, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is not fully convinced with his squad and would like to bolster it further next year.
The Manchester United boss wants to recruit a new right-back to cover and compete with Aaron Wan-Bissaka and has set his sights on RB Leipzig’s Nordi Mukiele.
Nordi Mukiele, 23, started his career at French club Stade Laval before being signed by Ligue 1 club Montpellier in January 2017. After spending 18 months with Montpellier, where he made 50 Ligue 1 appearances, the Frenchman signed for RB Leipzig in the summer of 2018.
The Frenchman has made 115 appearances for RB Leipzig in all competitions, registering nine goals and seven assists on top of that. Mukiele has had a shaky start to the new season, bizarrely scoring an own goal in Leipzig’s 6-3 defeat to Manchester City earlier this month.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is not convinced with both Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Manchester United were interested in signing Atletico Madrid right-back Kieran Trippier in the summer. However, they were priced out of a move, as Atletico Madrid demanded the Red Devils to pay the England international’s release clause of £34m.
Failing to recruit Trippier, 31, forced Solskjaer to keep hold of Diogo Dalot, who was wanted by both AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund. Dalot staying at Old Trafford saw the Norwegian tactician allow Brandon Williams to join the newly-promoted Norwich on a season-long loan to gain top-flight minutes as well as experience.
However, it is suggested Solskjaer is neither convinced with Dalot as a rotation option nor with Wan-Bissaka as the club’s starting right-back. And with Dalot lately linked with a January switch to AS Roma, the United tactician hopes to add a new right-back to his squad.
Nordi Mukiele could be a smart addition to the Man United squad
In that regard, RB Leipzig defender Nordi Mukiele would be a perfect fit at Old Trafford. Mukiele’s contract at the Red Bull Arena ends in 2023, so United plan to take advantage of the situation next summer when the 23-year-old enters the final year of his deal.
A mainstay for the German club, Mukiele has impressed with his energetic and attacking displays down the right side of his team. The one-cap France international is an all-round player capable of contributing both defensively and offensively in equal measure. A hard-working full-back, the former Montpellier man likes to take on players with his quick feet and burst of acceleration while his strength allows him to shrug off defenders.
In addition, Mukiele is extremely versatile as he can operate as a centre-back, a right-back, a central midfielder or a right-winger. The 23-year-old has played a lot of football for a player of his age and has grown in stature in recent years, which earned him his first France cap against Finland in a World Cup qualifier last month.
At 23, Mukiele has a long way to go in his career and he could solve United’s issues at right-back, while genuinely competing with Wan-Bissaka. However, it remains to be seen whether or not the Red Devils launch a swoop for the Leipzig star next summer.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
