5 months ago
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Manchester United are determined to bring in defensive reinforcements this summer and have added Red Bull Salzburg star Oumar Solet to their shortlist of targets at centre-half.
The Red Devils shipped 58 goals across a desperately disappointing campaign in the English top flight last term and finished the season down in eighth, the club’s worst ever showing in the Premier League era.
After deciding to stick with Ten Hag as manager, United bosses have now turned their attention to bolstering the first-team squad ahead of what is likely to be a busy few months at Old Trafford.
Central defence has been identified as a key area of focus and several top centre-backs have been linked in recent weeks, including Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo, Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi and Benfica’s Antonio Silva.
Raphael Varane’s recent departure frees up space in Ten Hag’s squad and there remains uncertainty over the future of Victor Lindelof, who is reportedly attracting strong interest from Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce.
According to RMC Sport, United are among a host of top teams keeping close tabs on Red Bull Salzburg’s Solet, along with Borussia Dortmund, Stuttgart and Bayer Leverkusen from the Bundesliga.
It’s claimed United are ‘watching the player closely’ ahead of a possible summer bid. The report adds that another unnamed Premier League club could provide competition for the Frenchman’s signature.
Solet is said to be keen to ‘take a step forward’ in his career and wishes to ‘continue his progress’ elsewhere after spending four years in Salzburg, where he has won two Austrian Bundesliga titles.
Salzburg have grown increasingly resigned to losing Solet before the 2024/25 campaign and would be prepared to do business should they receive an offer of between €12-15million (£10-12.5m) for the sought-after 24-year-old.
Solet has just one year remaining on his current contract meaning Salzburg risk losing the defender on a free transfer in 12 months time should they block him from leaving this summer.
Speaking to Goal back in December, Solet made no secret of his ambition to one day play in the Premier League.
Quizzed on his dreams for the future, he replied: ‘To play for the best teams in the world, of course. To be an example for young players.
‘I just want to show my skills to the whole world.
‘Since the youngest age, I’ve been a fan of the Premier League, but from now on, I am really open about every top league. I just want to play great games and be happy.’
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