In a recent report, the Sun provided an update on Manchester United‘s pursuit of Ajax left-back Nicolas Tagliafico, who has been offered a new contract to extend his stay at Amsterdam. It is believed that the Argentine defensive ace is on Man United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s radar ahead of a potential £23m move during this summer transfer period (via The Sun).
Tagliafico’s Impressive Spell At Amsterdam So Far
It seems like the Dutch club’s desire to keep hold of Tagliafico for the long-run could hamper Man United’s hopes of landing him before next month’s transfer deadline. The 28-year-old encountered another fruitful season under Erik ten Hag’s tutelage as he put in a run of impressive displays on the left side of the Ajax backline.
Tagliafico appeared in 38 matches for the Dutch champions in the previous campaign, netting five goals and grabbing seven assists across various competitions. The 25-time Argentine international did well to make a positive impression at both ends of the field as he averaged 2.5 tackles, 1.7 interceptions, 2.1 clearances, 1.6 shots and 1.0 key passes per game in the 2019-20 Dutch Eredivisie season. He also took care of the ball relatively well when distributing it from the left flank position as evident from his pass completion rate of 85.9% in top-flight football (stats via whoscored).
The ex-Club Atlético Independiente talent has won multiple trophies with Ajax, so maybe this summer could be the ideal time for him to opt for a fresh challenge away from the Johan Cruijff ArenA. Man United could be a good destination for Tagliafico to consider, but only if Solskjaer is willing to offer him regular first-team minutes in the Premier League this season.
What Will The Argentine International Bring To The Table?
Tagliafico can distribute the ball immaculately and has proven his worth as a creative influence in the opposition half. His quickness, composure and crossing ability make him a threat going forward, but he is also renowned for his defensive prowess. The Argentine can time his tackles well to win the ball back for his team. He has also shown excellent defensive awareness to position himself ideally to clear his lines when being outnumbered by the opposition inside his half.
Is Tagliafico The Right Choice For The Red Devils?
Recruiting Tagliafico this late in the transfer window would be a major coup for Man United as they are in dire need to strengthen their squad before the deadline in October. Solskjaer has currently got Luke Shaw and Brandon Williams as his primary options for the left-back position. However, Tagliafico will be a significant upgrade over them due to his ability to influence the game in both halves.
The Argentine sensation would add more variety and depth to the Red Devils squad for this new campaign. Still, there are some question marks over whether he can cope with the physical nature of football in England. With all things considered, Tagliafico will be a brilliant choice for the Mancunian giants as he will help them compete for some major silverware in the years to come.
