Manchester United brought in two new centre backs over the summer but have seen one target make a surprise move as a free agent.
Erik ten Hag entered the summer transfer window knowing that he had to bolster Manchester United’s centre back options.
Raphael Varane moved on and with Lisandro Martinez’s injury problems well-documented, United simply had to buy new defenders.
United invested in Leny Yoro, securing a huge coup by signing the Lille wonderkid before he picked up a pre-season injury.
United also splashed out on Matthijs de Ligt, signing the Bayern Munich defender as he reunited with his former Ajax boss Ten Hag.
Ten Hag’s back line is still leaking goals but United will feel confident that these investments will pay off down the line.
Oumar Solet on the move
United were linked with a number of defenders during the summer window.
One of them was Oumar Solet, who had impressed with Red Bull Salzburg over in Austria.
Reports in Solet’s native France suggested that United were interested in bringing Solet to Old Trafford back in June.
No deal was done and Solet’s future took a strange turn in September.
Red Bull Salzburg suddenly decided to rip up Solet’s contract and release him on a free transfer.
That seemed truly bizarre as United were far from the only club interested in his signature.
Solet has now find himself a new club with Italian side Udinese confirming his arrival on a deal until 2027.
It’s unclear just why Solet was released in the first place but he is a name United can forget about for now.
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Solet joins forces with Alexis Sanchez
Solet’s move hands him a first crack at Italian football and his move sees him join up with a former United flop.
Udinese completed an emotional move for Alexis Sanchez over the summer, some 13 years since leaving for Barcelona.
Sanchez really made his name at Udinese, scoring 20 times in 95 Serie A games for the club.
The Chilean went on to Barcelona and Arsenal before his ill-fated stint with United.
Sanchez infamously managed just three goals in 32 Premier League games for United after being exchanged for Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Now 35, Sanchez is back with Udinese once again and he will be looking for success alongside Solet, who may be worth keeping tabs on for United.
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