One of the deepest positions in Manchester United’s squad this season is the right back role.
Jose Mourinho currently has Antonio Valencia as his first choice. But he also features several competent backups such as Matteo Darmian, Daley Blind, and even Timothy Fosu-Mensah. Despite that amount of depth, the manager is not happy and would be looking to add another fullback into the squad.
One name that has featured regularly in transfer rumours over the past few days is Serge Aurier.
After the arrival of Dani Alves, Aurier suddenly became expendable at Paris Saint-Germain. In fact, he was not included in their preseason tour of the USA. Tottenham tried to sign the Ivory Coast international to replace Kyle Walker, but The Red Devils might win the race for his services.
An Interesting Addition To The Squad
According to L’Equipe, Jose Mourinho is reportedly set to table a £20m offer for the 24-year-old. But does he fit within the team? Surprisingly enough, Aurier could be a very good addition to United.
First and foremost, Aurier would undoubtedly increase the team’s depth at the back. He is more adept at playing on the right, but he can operate on both flanks. And his presence would certainly define other roles within the squad, allowing Blind to play either as a centre-back or as a defensive midfielder, and pushing Darmian to a full-time left-back role.
In that scenario, Aurier and Valencia would likely compete for the starting position. But there is a chance Aurier becomes the full-time starter to move Valencia elsewhere. As you might recall, the Ecuadorian has spent most of his career playing as a winger. And even though he has adjusted quite well to a more defensive stance, he’s better suited to play on an attacking role.
The potential moves do not end there, though. If Valencia moves to the wing, then he could add some much-needed pace in the final third. He would be one of the few players on the team who can play as an old-school winger, unsettling defenders with his pace and constantly winning the byline to cross the ball into the box. That is a trait Mourinho would certainly welcome, especially with Romelu Lukaku as the central striker.
A Few Red Flags
Unfortunately, Aurier comes with a few red flags to his name. There have been questions about his desire and commitment. He has also had behaviour issues that caused PSG to suspend him for a few weeks. And there are discipline problems, as his decision making is questionable at times.
That should not be much of a problem, though. Mourinho does a good job to contain his players’ discipline, and there is no doubt Aurier would want to impress both the gaffer and his new teammates. But these issues are worth keeping an eye on in case he lands at Old Trafford.
Is He Arriving Any Time Soon?
The Red Devils have not submitted an official offer, however, so fans should temper their expectations concerning the arrival of the defender. But there is no question he would be a very good addition to the side. And the price tag would not be massive either.
In case Aurier joins the team, he has the potential to be a low-risk, high-reward signing. And when it comes to Mourinho, those bets usually pan out better than expected.
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