Manchester United looked a spent force earlier this season under Jose Mourinho but have now revived spectacularly in the recent weeks following the Portuguese’s dismissal. He has been succeeded by ex-Red Devils centre-forward Ole Gunnar Solskjær who is going strong in an interim role. The club should now be refocusing on transfer plans irrespective of the Norwegian’s future at the Theatre of Dreams.
According to Simon Jones for Mailonline, United are set to rival Real Madrid for the signing of Porto defender Eder Militao in the summer. The 21-year-old Brazilian completed a £3m transfer from his boyhood side, Sao Paulo back in August but earned attention in a short spell for his versatility and composure.
The giants of Manchester have not triggered the one-year extension of Antonio Valencia’s contract and could be in the market for his potential replacement. Teenager Diogo Dalot is not ready yet to carry the baton forward and veteran Ashley Young, now 33, won’t be able to perform his duties for long.
Militao can play as a right-back, centre-back as well as a defensive midfielder. He has been scouted extensively by the European heavyweights and impressed all with his strong physical and aerial presence, tackling and intercepting traits and the ability to carry the ball forward exhibiting his strong dribbling skills.
The youngster earned his maiden senior international cap for the Selecao in September against El Salvador and played the full 90 minutes of a thumping 5-0 victory. He has indeed made some significant strides over the past six months and should now gear up for a sterner test in one of Europe’s greatest leagues.
The defender, meanwhile, has a release clause of £45m in his contract which will be increased to £70m in July. He is unlikely to depart this month as confirmed by his agent ( via A Bola) despite all speculations but is claimed (by Brazilian network SporTV) to have ‘reached a verbal agreement’ with Real Madrid.
But the rumors are indistinct, and the Red Devils must be hopeful of tying the Brazilian down considering his best is yet to come in spite of early promises.
Manchester United are battling it out to clinch a place in the ‘top four’ to lure in the exciting prospects of world football. Militao is indeed one of them and would slot straight in their ‘back four’ with Phil Jones’ future at Old Trafford is also in a quandary.
