RB Leipzig midfielder Amadou Haidara is reportedly on the transfer wish list of new Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick.
Ralf Rangnick enjoyed a winning start to his reign at Old Trafford at the weekend, with Fred scoring Manchester United’s winning goal against Crystal Palace. Come January, the 63-year-old tactician will be reportedly be handed a £100 million transfer war chest to spend on new recruits.
According to the Daily Mirror, Ralf Rangnick wants to make RB Leipzig’s Amadou Haidara his first signing in the winter transfer window. The Malian midfielder has a release clause in his contract, which becomes active in the summer, but the Manchester United boss is keen to land his No.1 target next month by paying a fee in the region of £33million, the report adds.
Haidara, 23, is a talented young midfielder who has impressed for RB Leipzig since arriving from RB Salzburg in 2019. In fact, he had scored in RB Leipzig’s 3-2 win over Manchester United at the Red Bull Arena in the Champions League group stages last season.
Rangnick has a solid record when it comes to identifying young talents and nurturing them, and having developed a good relationship with Haidara since the pair’s RB Salzburg days, he wants to bring the Malian at Old Trafford.
Amadou Haidara to Manchester United – The ideal fit for Ralf Rangnick?
Manchester United would do well by reinforcing their midfield options, especially as they’re about to lose both Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard on a free transfer at the end of the season.
The duo have not shown any inclination to extend their stays at Old Trafford beyond the current campaign, while Nemanja Matic is not getting any younger.
Donny Van de Beek has struggled for game time since arriving from Ajax last summer and is yet to start a league game this term. Fred and Scott McTominay have blown hot and cold over the last couple of years, which should prompt the Red Devils to sign an upgrade on the duo in midfield.
This should make Amadou Haidara a perfect fit for Rangnick’s high-intensity, attacking and counter-pressing style of football.
A box-to-box midfielder by trade, Haidara is more than adept at playing as a holding midfielder and doing the dirty work needed for his team.
The 23-year-old has a good passing range, can break play with his tackling and interception skills and chip in with crucial goals by timing his runs in the box to perfection. He would add a lot of energy and intensity to Man United’s midfield, thanks to his impressive engine.
The Malian international could be a like-for-like replacement for Pogba at Old Trafford, whilst adding balance to Rangnick’s midfield. At 23, Haidara would be a long-term solution to Manchester United’s midfield problems as well, thus, making his acquisition in January a priority for Rangnick and co.