According to a recent report by Sport, Manchester United are considering orchestrating a move to acquire the services of Ousmane Dembele from Barcelona during the summer transfer period. However, the same source has also mentioned that the Red Devils will face competition from Arsenal in pursuit of the French attacker this summer. It is believed that Dembele has contacted his international teammate Anthony Martial to find out about what it means to play at Old Trafford (via Sport).
Dembele’s Recurring Injury Concerns At The Nou Camp
The 22-year-old has endured another frustrating campaign at the Nou Camp after missing out on several matches as a result of a serious hamstring injury. He has only found the back of the net once in nine appearances for Barca this term across multiple competitions. Hence, a summer switch away from Catalonia could offer him a chance to kick start his career and rediscover his old form in European football.
The former Rennes speedster has averaged 1.0 shots, 1.6 key passes and 2.8 dribbles in every 90 minutes of league football this season which highlights how effective he can be in the final third despite earning limited playing time due to injury (stats via whoscored).
If Dembele can find a way to overcome his recent injury setbacks and stay healthy, then he has the potential to be a major success story at a top club like Man United. The talented winger has also represented the French national team in 21 international matches while registering two goals under Didier Deschamps’ stewardship in the process. However, he is in dire need of performing at a high-level in the upcoming campaign if he wants to earn a place back in the Les Bleus squad ahead of the UEFA European Championship which has been delayed until the summer of 2021 because of the recent COVID-19 pandemic.
What Will The French Starlet Bring To The Theatre Of Dreams?
Dembele can use his blistering pace to get to the by-line and often tends to get the better of his marker in the final third. He excels at running with the ball out of tight spaces and has proven himself to be a lethal presence in and around the opposition penalty area. He can also strike the ball with a lot of venom and accuracy, which makes him a potent goal-threat from either wing. However, his recent injury record is a significant cause for concern for any of his potential suitors.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be aware of Dembele’s injury struggles, so he will be taking a huge risk if he decides to splash the cash to bring the Frenchman to the Premier League this summer. When fit, the Barca attacker can be a consistent goal-getter up top due to his quickness and ability to wreak havoc in the attacking third of the field. The Red Devils do not have too many natural wide players in their squad which explains why Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood have often been deployed as makeshift wingers this season. Therefore, Solskjaer can benefit from acquiring a quality winger like Dembele, who is versatile enough to operate on both flanks.
The La Liga star will not only add a lot of pace and goal-threat to the Man United frontline but also increase competition for places within their squad. He has the potential to strike up a dangerous attacking partnership with the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford at the Mancunian club. Therefore, it makes a lot of sense for the Red Devils to consider a move for him before the start of the new season. Dembele will also allow Solskjaer to be more flexible with team selections, formations and tactics in the coming seasons.
