Manchester United are keen on signing Atletico Madrid full-back Kieran Trippier this summer, but will have to fork out €50m to land him.
Atletico Madrid are reluctant to sell Kieran Trippier, 30, who was superb for them in their La Liga-winning campaign. The full-back is currently with the England squad for the ongoing Euro 2020 and started at left-back in the opening win over Croatia.
The England international has two years left on his current contract with the Spanish champions. Manchester United have been impressed with Trippier’s performances and versatility for Atletico over the past couple of seasons in the LaLiga and are interested in signing him to add competition for Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
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Solskjaer keen on strengthening his squad to challenge Man City for the title
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s priority in the summer transfer window is to strengthen his attacking options at Old Trafford after another trophyless campaign.
The Red Devils have shown signs of improvement in the Premier League under Solskjaer as they finished second in the table this past campaign, but they were unable to win their first silverware since 2017 following the Europa League final loss to Villarreal in May.
Manchester United are closing in on the signing of long-term target Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho, as Solskjaer looks to solve his team’s right-wing conundrum. The potential signing of Sancho would immediately improve Solskjaer’s starting XI, adding more pace, dynamism and flair to the attack that already consists of Marcus Rashford, Edinson Cavani, Bruno Fernandes and Mason Greenwood.
To launch a Premier League title bid next season, Solskjaer must also reinforce the other areas of the pitch. A centre-back to partner skipper Harry Maguire is a must, given the fact that Solskjaer’s side failed to keep a single clean sheet in their remaining league games after the England international got injured in the 3-1 win at Aston Villa.
With Nemanja Matic ageing, signing a defensive midfielder would be sensible too. A cultured defensive midfielder would not only protect the backline but also allow the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba to play their natural game and create havoc in the final third of the pitch.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka needs cover and competition next season
In addition to a centre-back and a defensive midfielder, the Norwegian tactician needs quality backup for the overworked Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Wan-Bissaka was Solskjaer’s undisputed first-choice right-back last season, starting 54 games across all competitions, including the Europa League final against Villarreal. The 23-year-old is an excellent one-on-one defender and generally a reliable performer, and while he has improved his productivity going forward, Solskjaer and co. apparently want more attacking threat down the right flank.
Kieran Trippier could be a smart addition to United’s defensive ranks
Kieran Trippier is undoubtedly a quality player, having improved his overall game further under the tutelage of Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid. He has shone at Atletico since joining Tottenham in 2019 and helped Simeone’s side win the LaLiga title ahead of Real Madrid and Barcelona last season.
The experienced England international will offer the Red Devils a different dimension to attack in comparison to Wan-Bissaka. He could turn out to be the player that brings the best out of Wan-Bissaka, someone like Alex Telles, whose signing has transformed Luke Shaw at left-back.
Plus, Trippier’s versatility would be a boon for Solskjaer’s side, as the ex-Spurs man can play at left-back, left wing-back, or right wing-back when required.
It is a pivotal summer for United, who will need to bring in not just players but the right ones. Trippier is clearly wanted by Solskjaer, but it remains to be seen whether or not United meet Atletico’s valuation for their star right-back this 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.