Ten Hag may land a super Varane inheritor with Man Utd swoop for 20 y/o “prospect”

Manchester United face a busy run of fixtures earlier than Christmas that would make or break their season relying on their success or failure in these matches.

The Outdated Trafford facet have two important Champions League ties towards Bayern Munich and Galatasaray to return, whereas additionally they need to face Newcastle United, Chelsea and Liverpool within the Premier League.

If Erik ten Hag can get by means of this powerful run, and it’s a huge if, it’d simply be the catalyst the membership want to enhance through the second half of the marketing campaign and problem for a prime 4 spot within the desk.

Having received just nine of the first 18 matches within the present season, Ten Hag might look to strengthen his faltering facet through the January switch window, particularly as a few of his gamers are attracting consideration from elsewhere.

Casemiro is reportedly being targeted by golf equipment in Saudi Arabia in keeping with 90min and this might go away a giant void within the centre of United’s midfield.

The riches supplied by the Center East may tempt the Brazilian into making the transfer to Asia and this will imply Ten Hag delves into the switch market.

Man Utd switch information

Whereas their midfield choices could possibly be lighter with Casemiro probably departing, Ten Hag can even be eager on strengthening his defensive choices forward of the second half of the season.

The Crimson Devils have conceded 30 goals in simply 18 matches this season already and one thing must be accomplished to repair this leaky defence.

In response to German outlet Bild (through TEAMtalk), United are keeping tabs on younger French defender Castello Lukeba forward of the January window with hopes of luring him to England.

The 20-year-old secured a transfer to RB Leipzig from Lyon in the summertime, regardless of United exhibiting interest in the youngster earlier this yr.

Scouts from Outdated Trafford, in keeping with the report, have been monitoring the centre-back this season, though a transfer could be deemed barely unrealistic within the subsequent few months provided that he has solely been within the Bundesliga because the summer time.

He may emerge as a dream inheritor to Raphael Varane ought to he make the transfer to Manchester, particularly as the previous Actual Madrid defender has been linked with a transfer away.

Raphael Varane’s future at Man Utd

At first of November, TEAMtalk revealed that Varane was attracting attention from golf equipment in Saudi Arabia, and so they have been seeking to make a transfer for the defender in January.

With simply 18 months left on his current contract, the following switch window could possibly be the best time for Ten Hag to money in on the 30-year-old and recoup a payment just like the one they shelled out for him simply over two years in the past.

Having established himself as one of many best centre-backs on the continent throughout his spell with Madrid, Varane has develop into an increasing number of injury-prone since arriving in Manchester.

Certainly, because the starting of the 2021/22 season, the Frenchman has missed 38 matches due a wide range of damage points and he as not fairly been at his good finest, along with his absences not permitting him to seek out his rhythm on the pitch.

This season, the 30-year-old has started just four Premier League matches whereas he fails to rank within the prime ten within the squad for correct passes per recreation within the league (30.4) together with rating within the fifteenth spot for tackles per recreation (0.6) and nineteenth for interceptions per recreation, clearly proving that he has not been an impressive contributor offensively or defensively.

Harm issues could possibly be catching up with the French titan as, even when he’s match sufficient to characteristic, Varane has not been fairly on the identical degree which noticed him win four Champions League crowns with Madrid together with securing a World Cup winners medal for France in 2018.

By signing Lukeba, Ten Hag may unearth a pure inheritor to the United defender on the flip of the yr.

Castello Lukeba’s profession statistics

The younger gem made his debut for Lyon through the 2021/22 season, finally featuring 30 times in what was a breakthrough season, and his performances have been broadly praised.

Journalist Josh Bunting waxed lyrical about the defender in December 2021 following a match towards Metz, saying: “Castello Lukeba once more spectacular for Lyon at Metz , actually sharp younger participant not simply getting the purpose however he’s slotting into that again 3 very properly, he’s a really correct passer of the ball,will get on it and might transfer it shortly. Additionally has a very good go choice about him. Large prospect.”

As you possibly can see inside the desk above, Lukeba has outperformed Varane at league degree this time period because of the defensive influence he has had on the pitch.

One other 38 appearances adopted final time period earlier than he secured his huge transfer to Leipzig in the summertime and along with his current performances in Germany, Lukeba is starting to seem like the true deal.

The 20-year-old ace has already made 16 appearances, together with 4 within the Champions League, and is wanting settled at his new membership this time period.

Not solely does he rank second among his teammates for correct passes per recreation within the Bundesliga (57.5), however the defender additionally ranks within the prime ten for tackles (0.7) and interceptions (0.3) per recreation, demonstrating how spectacular he has been in defence.

Not solely is he adept at passing and dictating the play from the guts of the defence, however he has spectacular physicality for somebody so younger. Lukeba has won 63% of his total duels – three per recreation – within the German prime flight this time period and his potential to get the higher of opposition gamers in a single one-on-one battles is great.

The Leipzig sensation featured for the France U21 side on 14 occasions earlier than lastly making his debut towards Scotland final month in a 4-1 victory, approaching with simply three minutes left.

Along with his spectacular performances this time period, nevertheless, he may probably sneak into the Euro 2024 squad subsequent summer time, and this is able to be the catalyst for him to essentially present his value on the massive stage.

Lukeba is definitely following within the footsteps of Varane and, if given continued publicity on the highest degree, he might finally attain his degree.

United want one other centre-back desperately and Lukeba is an interesting prospect. Whereas a transfer within the subsequent few weeks could be out of the query, the Dutchman needs to be doing every part he can to lure the teen to Manchester sooner moderately than later.