According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Manchester United have contacted Napoli over the possibility of Elseid Hysaj’s potential move to Old Trafford. The Albanian international is tipped as one of the players set to leave San Paolo Stadium this summer amid reports linking James Rodriguez with a move to Naples.
It is believed that Manchester United have made the first move in the pursuit of Hysaj as they scour the market to find a replacement for the departing Antonio Valencia next season.
Elseid Hysaj’s successful spell at Napoli
Since moving to Naples in a €5 million move from Empoli back in 2015, Hysaj has become a vital part of the Napoli backline. During his ongoing four year spell with the club, the right-back has made 170 appearances across all competitions. He is, in fact, regarded as one of Serie’s best right-backs.
However, the emergence of Kevin Malcuit has somewhat minimised Hysaj’s overall game-time this past season. The 25-year-old featured in only 2,109 minutes of league football during the 2018/19 campaign, which is the first time the defender failed to surpass the 3,000-minute mark since joining Napoli in 2015.
Hence, a move away from San Paolo Stadium could make sense as the Partenopei look to embark on a new era under Carlo Ancelotti next season.
What can Hysaj bring to the table?
Hysaj is all about his aggression and fighting spirit that has made him such a highly rated defender in the Serie A. Indeed, the 25-year-old is always willing to win back possession for his team and stay dogged at the back. He also has the leadership qualities about him and has been leading the Albanian national team for a few years now.
Aside from his aggression, Hysaj is known for his excellent technical qualities that let him link-up with teammates in the final third. He is also quite strong and is capable of holding onto the ball even under tight pressure. The Albanian international notably averaged 1.5 tackles, 1.6 clearances and 1.1 headed duels won per game this past season.
Should Man United make a move for Hysaj?
Manchester United are in desperate need of a right-back, with Valencia set to leave the club this summer while Ashley Young is already in the final stage of his career. Youngster Diogo Dalot has also struggled to make an impact in the first team after joining from FC Porto last summer.
Hysaj, in that regard, will be an ideal target for the Red Devils. The Albanian, as mentioned earlier, has the physical attributes, which is coupled with his aggressive style of play that could make him a tailor-made fit in the astute physical nature of the Premier League. And at the age of 25, he could be an ideal long-term investment for the English giants.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
