Manchester United are among a host of clubs closely monitoring AS Nancy starlet Warren Bondo.
Currently one of the most coveted players in the French market, Warren Bondo, 18, has been a part of the AS Nancy academy since 2018. The central midfielder enjoyed a meteoric rise through the youth ranks before gaining promotion to Nancy’s senior team in 2020. During his breakthrough campaign, the teenager has involved in 13 Ligue 2 games, in which he scored a goal.
The French under-19 international has already made 11 Ligue 2 appearances in the 2021/22 campaign, catching the attention of several clubs, including the likes of Bayern Munich, AC Milan and Inter Milan, with his eye-catching displays for Nancy.
Warren Bondo’s contract with Les Chardons expires in the summer of 2022, so he can either sign a pre-contract agreement with a non-French club from January 1 onwards or walk out of his current club on a free transfer. Stade Rennes are looking for the emerging French talent after cashing in on Eduardo Camavinga in the past summer transfer window, while Paris Saint-Germain have also been linked with him.
Meanwhile, Manchester United will take a dip in the transfer market for midfield reinforcements as doubts continue to surround over the long-term futures of Jesse Lingard, Paul Pogba, Donny Van de Beek and Juan Mata. The likes of Pogba and Lingard are out of contracts at the end of the season, while Van de Beek hasn’t featured as much as he would have liked for the Red Devils since joining from Ajax last summer.
Man United must invest in a dynamic central midfielder
New Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has enjoyed a positive start to life at Old Trafford, winning two and drawing one game so far. He wants the Red Devils to play a proactive, high-intensity, attacking and counter-pressing style of football, and while there have been glimpses over the first three games, there is a lot to be desired.
Ralf Rangnick has a history of nurturing young talents and providing them with the platform to develop into top players. At Old Trafford, the German coach has some unbelievable young talents with massive potential to work with, and he’ll be keen to add more to his ranks, especially in the midfield department.
With Fred and Scott McTominay blowing hot and cold, Nemanja Matic not getting any younger and Pogba into the final seven months of his contract, bolstering the midfield unit is an absolute must for the Mancunian club.
Warren Bondo could be a smart long-term investment for the Red Devils
Warren Bondo is one of the rising stars of French football and the fact that he’s on the radar of some of Europe’s elite clubs speak volumes about his talent and potential. A young prospect like Bondo could be introduced into this mix given how Rangnick is open to giving chances to youngsters.
The Frenchman is an appealing option for Manchester United, whose problems in midfield have been evident for the last few years. He could be a breath of fresh air, competing with the likes of Fred, McTominay, Fernandes and Van de Beek whilst becoming a long-term replacement for Matic.
Considering the interest Bondo has attracted recently, Man United must try to snap him up on a cut-price deal in January rather than waiting until the summer of 2022.
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.
