Manchester United are ready to make a move for AS Roma centre-back Kostas Manolas, it has been claimed by The Sun.
It is believed that the Red Devils are willing to pay the reported release clause of £32 million for the Roma defender as they look to strengthen their defence in the ongoing January transfer window.
Kostas Manolas: the right choice by Solskjaer?
United have seen a vast improvement in their performance, following the appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
However, the defence is still seen as a massive weakness, with the Red Devils keeping just one clean sheet in their last four league matches under the Norwegian. And considering Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo’s injury woes combined with Victor Lindelof and Chris Smalling’s inconsistencies, United are in need of a leader at the back.
Manolas, in that regard, could be an interesting choice given his vast experience as well as the quality of his skillset, which will surely add more steel to the United backline.
The Greek international has been a consistent performer in the Serie A for the past four seasons, having made nearly 150 appearances in the Italian top flight.
Although Manolas has been always criticized for his prudent tackling(attempting just over 2 tackles per game), the fact that he wins 63% of his tackles somewhat justifies his conservative nature when it comes to fending off threats.
His decision-making while defending and his confidence and composure when in possession of the ball makes him look a cut above a number of his contemporaries.
This could certainly be beneficial for United, who have lacked the services of someone, who isn’t afraid to move out and press the attackers, ultimately preventing the opposition from asserting their dominance in and around the final third of the pitch.
Furthermore, standing at six feet two inches, Manolas’ excellent physique allows him to dominate in the air(wins over 2 aerial duels per game) while also becoming a threat from set-pieces.
The 27-year-old is also known for his remarkable ball distribution as well as his laser-passes, having attained a pass accuracy of 88% this season.
The fact that he can easily pass in between the lines, which often speeds up the build-up play from the back, is something Manchester United have been in need of for a very long time.
Therefore, Manolas should prove to be an excellent addition to United, as he can not only inject more technical prowess into the backline but his vast experience will also be useful as the Red Devils look to push for the Champions League places during the second half of the campaign.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored