According to The Sunday Times (Via Manchester evening news), Jose Mourinho is eager to bolster Manchester United‘s defence in the upcoming January transfer window and Kalidou Koulibaly has been identified as a top target. The Napoli superstar has been long linked with a move to Old Trafford and a big-money transfer could be on the horizon, especially with the player now keen to move to England.
As a result, Mourinho is doing his bid to convince the Manchester United hierarchy to fund a January move for Koulibaly as he aims to solidify the defensive department. But, will it prove to be a good choice for the Red Devils?
Kalidou Koulibaly: Player attributes and stats
Kalidou Koulibaly is advertised as a ball-playing defender, who excels in circulating possession from the back, which is reflected in his excellent passing accuracy of 90% in the league this season. However, what makes him an appealing target is his physical dominance, which often appears intimidating for the opposing attackers.
Standing at 195cm, Koulibaly’s physique gives him an obvious advantage in the air with the defender winning 2.3 aerial duels per game. He is also very solid with his tackling, attempting almost two tackles per game while being dribbled past only once in eight matches. In addition, Koulibaly has notched up over three clearances per game – a tally only bettered by Raul Albiol this season.
The centre-half possesses a great deal of threat from set-pieces as well, thanks to his tall frame. The Senegalese international notably scored as many as five league goals last season, which is no small feat for a defender.
Manchester United need Kalidou Koulibaly
Manchester United are in dire need of a world class defender who can solidify their vulnerable backline and Koulibaly will be an ideal choice. As iterated earlier, the Napoli superstar obtains traits that are tailor-made for the Premier League and even more so under Jose Mourinho’s defence oriented Manchester United.
The likes of Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Chris Smalling have all struggled with inconsistency throughout their spell with United, so Koulibaly can prove to be a much-needed upgrade. He can not only fortify the defence but can also help out in the build-up game.
Koulibaly has good top-flight experience, having made over 130 Serie A appearances with Napoli. And finally, at the age of 27, he has time on his side and can turn out to be a great defensive asset for the Red Devils in the coming years.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
