Manchester United have been linked with a move for another Borussia Dortmund player. Here we go again…
The difference this time is United won’t have to negotiate with the German side and could land the player on a free transfer.
German outlet Fussball Transfers report United have approached Dan-Axel Zagadou’s agent with a view to a potential summer move.
Who is Dan-Axel Zagadou?
1) Zagadou is a centre-back who signed for Dortmund in 2017 after leaving PSG’s academy.
2) Zagaou has represented France at every youth level through to the under-21s but has not yet been capped by the Les Bleus senior squad.
3) The 22-year-old has made 80 first team appearances for Dortmund, but could leave this summer as his contract expires in June 2022.
4) Zagadou’s rise has been delayed by injuries. Most recently he underwent knee surgery in March which meant his first Bundesliga appearance of this season did not come until November.
5) He is left-footed, a somewhat rare trait in a centre-back. United have not had one of these since Marcos Rojo left the club.
What do they say?
Dortmund have not given up on potentially keeping him put. Manager Marco Rose told BVB Buzz he hopes he will sign a new contract.
Rose said: “I would very much welcome it if Daxo decides to stay on at Borussia Dortmund. He is a young, excellent central defender with very good ability. He is physically strong, has a lot of speed, has a good left foot. First and foremost, I hope that he stays healthy. I see him as a very important part of our team.”
Zagadou says he has benefitted from learning alongside Mats Hummels, telling Bundesliga.com: “He helps a lot, he’s got a lot of experience and he’s won a lot. You can feel it on the pitch, he speaks and directs us. It’s good for the team to have him.”
Kicker‘s profile described him, “Dan-Axel Zagadou, known as: Daxo, is a tree made by a man, over 1.90 meters tall and over 90 kilograms, with a broad back and muscular thighs. A defender who is best avoided on the field.”
Rangnick tried to sign him before
A move for Zagadou would fit right in with Ralf Rangnick’s transfer strategy. At RB Leipzig he signed young French centre-backs Ibrahima Konate and Dayot Upamecano on the cheap and turned them into stars.
Zagadou was on his list too. Fussball Transfers report Rangnick is the ‘driving force’ behind the latest interest and tried to bring him to RB Leipzig in 2017.
On a free transfer a move for the 22-year-old could be a terrific addition, especially as United could cash in on Eric Bailly or/and Axel Tuanzebe in the summer, with the former reportedly unhappy with a lack of regular football and the latter out on loan.
A move for Zagadou may not be considered essential right now, and yet it could turn out to be a particularly shrewd one.
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