In a recent print edition, A Bola claimed that Manchester United have ‘accelerated pace’ to land FC Porto left-back Alex Telles before the transfer deadline next month. It is believed that the Red Devils have reached the peak in their negotiations with the Portuguese club over a potential move for Telles during this ongoing transfer period (transcripted and translated by Sport Witness).
Telles’ Incredible Form For Porto Last Season
The Brazilian full-back has established himself as a bona fide star at the Estádio do Dragão after putting in several match-winning performances on the left side of Sérgio Conceição’s defence. The 27-year-old did well to score 13 goals and provide 12 assists in 49 appearances for the Liga NOS outfit across multiple competitions in the previous campaign.
Telles was a top performer in both halves of the field as he averaged 1.1 tackles, 1.8 interceptions, 1.2 clearances, 1.3 shots, 1.8 key passes and 0.6 dribbles per match in the Portuguese top-flight last season. He was even more influential with his showings in Europe as evident from his average of 2.3 tackles, 1.5 interceptions, 1.4 clearances, 0.6 shots, 2.6 key passes and 1.1 dribbles per 90 minutes in the last edition of the UEFA Champions League.
The one-time Brazil international distributed the ball with a lot of conviction from the left flank after making 80.5% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via whoscored).
At the moment, a move to Old Trafford could be a welcome opportunity for Telles to prove his value at a more prominent stage which might help him to compete for some major silverware in the years to come. The Brazilian has already won a lot of trophies during his playing career, so he will instil a winning mentality to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad if Man United can get him on board this summer.
What Are The Brazilian Defensive Ace’s Best Attributes?
Telles keeps himself busy when defending inside his half and can come away with the ball by making a few well-timed challenges when the opposition are on the offensive. He hardly gets beaten in a 1v1 footrace as he has the pace to get back and clear his lines when required. The Brazilian international is an excellent crosser of the ball, which explains how he has been so creative for Porto over the past 12 months. He has also scored his fair share of goals from the left-wing that has made him such a fan-favourite at the Estádio do Dragão.
Will Signing Telles Be A Wise Move For Solskjaer?
Man United have currently got Luke Shaw and Brandon Williams vying for the left-back spot at the Theatre of Dreams. It seems like Telles will be a significant upgrade over either of them due to his ability to score and assist goals so frequently without giving too much away in defence. Hence, the Red Devils would be wise to get the deal over the line to bring Telles to the north-west of England before the summer transfer window slams shut in October.
