According to a recent report by Le10Sport, Manchester United are keeping tabs on the progress of Borussia Monchengladbach striker Alassane Plea, who is not being considered as a priority target for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the moment. However, the same source has also revealed that the Red Devils will face stiff competition from Leicester City in pursuit of the French marksman this summer.
Plea’s Sparkling Form In German Football This Season
The Lille-born talent has enjoyed a productive season in Germany under the expert stewardship of Marco Rose. He has been responsible for putting in several match-winning displays in the Bundesliga so far. The talented centre-forward has registered eight goals and eight assists in 28 appearances for Monchengladbach this term in all competitions which highlights his growing influence at the Borussia-Park.
Plea has averaged 2.7 shots, 1.3 key passes and 1.7 dribbles per game in the German top-flight and the UEFA Europa League this season (stats via whoscored). The Frenchman’s impressive numbers showcase just how consistent he has been for the German outfit over the past nine months which has made him a real fan-favourite at the North Rhine-Westphalia club.
The 27-year-old has also represented France at various youth levels and has even managed to earn a senior cap for Didier Deschamps’ senior side back in 2018. Maybe a change of scenery could provide him with a bigger platform to showcase his talents which could give him a better chance to be named in the Les Bleus squad for next year’s UEFA European Championship finals after the competition has been delayed because of the recent COVID-19 pandemic.
What Will The French Frontman Bring To The Theatre Of Dreams?
Plea can use his quickness and agility to make some well-timed runs in behind the last line of the opposition defence. He can get into some promising areas inside the opposition penalty box and has transformed himself into a lethal finisher in the final third. The French striker also packs a lot of power with his shot attempts that make him such a potent goal-threat from long range. However, he can sometimes be guilty of giving away the ball too cheaply as evidenced by his average pass completion rate of 73.3% in the Bundesliga this season (stats via whoscored).
Should The Red Devils Put Up A Proper Fight To Land Plea This Summer?
Solskjaer can gain an advantage over his rivals if he can bring in more firepower during the summer transfer period. The likes of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood have all had their fair share of bright moments at Old Trafford this season. However, Solskjaer needs to push his strikers even more if he wants them to break into the world-class bracket someday. A forward of Plea’s skillset will undoubtedly increase competition for places within the Norwegian’s squad.
The Frenchman will not only bring plenty of goals and assists to the red half of Manchester but also enhance their chances of competing for multiple trophies in the coming seasons. Plus, Solskjaer will have the freedom to tweak his first-team, tactics and formations more often if he can find a way to win the chase to sign Plea this summer. All in all, there is no denying that the Monchengladbach star will be well-worth the fight as the Red Devils have the financial muscle to blow Leicester out of the race to secure his services in this off-season.
