According to a recent report by Telefoot journalist Julien Maynard, Manchester United will face fierce competition in pursuit of AS Monaco centre-back Benoît Badiashile this summer. He has also claimed that the Red Devils are already in talks with the French club with regards to a summer move for the talented defender, but will have to battle Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Real Madrid in pursuit of his signature.
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Badiashile’s Rapid Rise In French Football
Badiashile has enjoyed an impressive season at the Stade Louis II after producing some dominant displays at the heart of the Monaco backline. He made 20 appearances for the French outfit last season, securing a total of 1773 minutes of game time in all competitions.
The Limoges-born defensive ace found a decent run of form as evident from his average of 1.1 tackles, 1.7 interceptions and 3.4 clearances per game in Ligue 1 in the previous campaign. He has also completed 85.3% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via whoscored).
The 19-year-old has represented France at various youth levels and is currently an important member of the French Under-19 team, having featured in 15 matches for them thus far. Maybe a summer move to Old Trafford could give him a chance to shine at the highest level and catch the eyes of France boss Didier Deschamps ahead of next year’s UEFA European Championship finals.
What Will The French Defender Add To Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Side?
Badiashile has the tenacity to overpower the opposition and win the ball in the air using his incredible upper-body strength and leaping ability. He has also proven his worth as a reliable centre-back by pulling off some crucial interceptions and last-ditch clearances for his team. The French youngster is also an excellent distributor of the ball, so he won’t have any trouble slotting in at the heart of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s defence at Old Trafford.
Should The Red Devils Make A Move For Badiashile This Summer?
Badiashile will not only add more stability and power to the Man United backline but also bolster the overall depth of their squad. Plus, he will increase competition for the likes of Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly and Phil Jones in the race to secure a place alongside Harry Maguire at the Theatre of Dreams next season.
At 19, Badiashile will only get better and better in the coming seasons, so Solskjaer should consider orchestrating a move to bring him to the north-west of England before the start of the new campaign. He has the potential to become a world-class player in his position someday which Man United can look to capitalise on in the years to come.
