Who is reported Manchester United target Benoît Badiashile?

Add as preferred source on Google

According to French outlet RMC Sport, Manchester United have registered a ‘strong interest’ in Monaco’s Benoît Badiashile.

United are said to be competing with Valencia and Bayer Leverkusen for the centre-back, while Rennes have just had a 15 million Euro bid rejected.

Here is a closer look at the potential Manchester United addition…

1) Badiashile plays for Monaco and has made 20 starts this past season. He also made 20 starts in 2018/19.

2) The left-footed centre-back is just 19-years-old and he has represented France at international level from under-16 to the under-19s.

3) Badiashile was recently nominated for Europe’s Golden Boy Award, along with Mason Greenwood, Angel Gomes and James Garner.

4) He stands tall at an intimidating 6 foot 4″. This advantage helps him win an average of 3.5 aerial duels per game this season.

5) Badiashile signed a contract extension with Monaco last December. His deal now runs through until June 2024.

Would he be a good signing?

Badiashile was loosely linked with Manchester United last summer and he is the type of prospect a lot of top clubs will have an eye on.

He has the physical and stylistic attributes United like. He is strong, quick, and he likes to play out from the back.

At United he would not be expected to start right away, he would join the queue of defensive talent, to compete with Axel Tuanzebe and Teden Mengi.

Yet with Tuanzebe becoming worryingly injury prone in his debut season, United do need depth, with the likes of Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling all likely to be sold this summer.

If Tuanzebe’s injury problems concern the coaching staff, then it is likely United will look to strengthen in this department this summer, especially with Eric Bailly’s own troubled injury history a lurking problem.

Badiashile is the type of prospect who it could be worth taking a chance on, especially if Monaco need a quick sale.

United have also been linked with Swansea’s Joe Rodon, via The Mirror, and Badiashile would fit into the same category as a developmental prospect who can compete, add depth, and hopefully eventually turn into a regular starter in a few years.

There is no way to know for sure if Badiashile would or would not be a success, but at just 19, with 40 professional starts under his belt already, he is on the right track.

• How Marcus Rashford fared for England in 4-2 World Cup win vs Croatia
• How Bruno Fernandes fared in Portugal’s 1-1 draw against DR Congo
• Tom Heaton tips resilient Harry Maguire to bounce back from England snub
• ‘Rejected’… Ruben Amorim suffers major blow as AC Milan deal for key addition collapses already
• What sources close to Patrick Dorgu are now saying about his long-term future for Man Utd
• Kobbie Mainoo says England are about to face a player Casemiro speaks so highly about, ‘Pedestal…’
• Bruno Fernandes has now told Man Utd to sign £85m midfielder who is ‘very keen’ on transfer
• Michael Carrick lifts lid on Sir Jim Ratcliffe relationship as optimism brews for new season
• Graeme Souness says he’s now changed his mind about Bruno Fernandes at Man Utd