The need for reinforcements at Manchester United won’t go away with any positive result because the project at Old Trafford under Ruben Amorim is long-term.
Manchester United earned a good draw against Liverpool at Anfield as the players sent a reminder of their qualities on the biggest occasion.
However, that raised more questions than answers as to why they can’t do it every week, and precisely why transfers are needed to keep the players motivated.
Ruben Amorim will need to put his own stamp on the squad with some of his signings and the next one he has identified will be a tough get, as Man United will have to beat competition from their Manchester rivals for his signature.
Man Utd vs Man City for Sikou Niakate
Man United have many positions they need to strengthen in the window that urgency will get more intense in the summer when players become out of contract.
The defense will be hit hard with the departure of Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof, both of whom are on expiring contracts.
Therefore, strength in depth will be needed at Old Trafford, especially a left-footed centre-back since Lisandro Martinez is the only one at the club (Jonny Evans has to be a bonus member).
Enter Sikou Niakate, SC Braga’s Malian centre-back who, as per AfricaFoot, is attracting interest from Manchester United for a potential summer move.
The chase won’t be straightforward as Pep Guardiola has also identified him as the perfect profile for the left-sided centre-back spot, with the Man City administration appreciating him greatly.
United scouts have followed Niakate in the Europa League and Amorim would have known him from his days at Sporting Lisbon in Portugal.
Sikou Niakate’s Man Utd transfer
Braga have reportedly slapped a price tag of €30 million on Niakate and they should feel confident about getting it since a bidding war is set to ensue.
Niakate has been dubbed as the ‘real hope of Malian football’, quite a feat for a defender, particularly one who can’t be classified as a wonderkid anymore at 25.
There is a paucity of quality left-footed defenders in world football so the price for the ones who fulfill that condition is natural to hike, which can be seen in this case.
If he arrived at the club, Niakate would likely act as Martinez’s backup for the left-sided centre-back spot where there’s nobody right now, considering Evans’ lack of fit in Amorim’s system.
Niakate’s contract expires in 2028 so Braga are unlikely to budge on their asking price, especially because he’s more valuable to them than he would be at Old Trafford or the Etihad.
Still, this is exactly the kind of understated transfer United have failed to make under the Glazers so if some planning has gone into targeting him, it is worth trusting the new regime.
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