According to a recent report by the Ecuadorian news outlet Expreso, Manchester United have joined the race to acquire the services of Watford defender Pervis Estupiñán, who is currently playing on loan at Osasuna. The same source has also stated that the Red Devils will battle it out with Atletico Madrid and an unnamed team from Italy in pursuit of the Ecuadorian full-back.
Estupiñán’s Recent Emergence In Spanish Football
Since making a permanent switch to Vicarage Road, Estupiñán has experienced loan spells at Granada, Almeria, Mallorca and Osasuna which has furthered his development as a footballer. He is currently on the first year of his two-season loan spell at El Sadar Stadium and has earned a lot of plaudits for his performances under the expert stewardship of Jagoba Arrasate so far.
The 22-year-old has appeared in 29 matches for Osasuna this term, scoring one goal and providing five assists on all fronts which sheds light on how much he has improved as a left-back going forward. He has averaged 2.7 tackles, 1.8 interceptions and 1.5 clearances per game in the La Liga this season (stats via whoscored). Estupiñán’s stats highlight his incredible consistency on the defensive end of the field, which could be why so many top clubs, including Man United, are keeping track of his progress.
The Esmeraldas-born talent has also represented Ecuador at the Under-17 and Under-20 levels and has managed to secure one senior cap for his nation thus far. If Estupiñán can continue to impress with his performances in the upcoming campaign, then he should be in with a good shout to be named in Jordi Cruyff’s squad for next year’s Copa America which has been delayed due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic.
What Will The South American Sensation Bring To Old Trafford?
Estupiñán can use his quickness and agility to make some driving runs with the ball down the left flank. The promising full-back has been an excellent outlet for Osasuna this season as he has delivered some inviting crosses into the opposition penalty area. The Ecuadorian international has also transformed himself into a reliable defender at the back after making some vital interceptions and last-gasp clearances for his side. However, he tends to give away the ball as evidenced by his average pass completion rate of 74% in league football this season (stats via whoscored).
Man United have previously found a lot of joy when recruiting an Ecuadorian wide player in the form of Antonio Valencia, who thrived playing under Sir Alex Ferguson in the last years of his managerial reign at the Theatre of Dreams. Valencia had won two Premier League titles during his time in English football. So Estupiñán will hope to replicate a similar feat if he ever decides to complete a switch to Manchester.
However, the jury is still out on whether the on-loan Osasuna full-back is good enough to succeed in the Premier League. He has so far struggled to impress since joining the Hornets, so much so, that he is still waiting to play his first senior game for the Hertfordshire club.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be making a gamble if he opts to move in for the Ecuadorian at the end of his loan spell at Osasuna next year. However, it could turn out to be a calculated risk as Estupiñán is a player on the rise and has shown a lot of signs of improvement during this campaign. He is good enough to provide some healthy competition for Luke Shaw and Brandon Williams in the race to secure a regular left-back berth in Solskjaer’s first XI. Plus, the Red Devils can benefit from the added depth as they will finally have enough options in their squad to compete for multiple trophies in the coming years.
