Aniket Rai
Crystal Palace have joined Manchester United in the race to sign Schalke defender Ozan Kabak
A report by Daily Mail states that Premier League side Crystal Palace have joined Manchester United amongst other clubs currently linked with Ozan Kabak.
The Schalke defender is also linked with Leicester City and Bundesliga side RB Leipzig. Liverpool have also shown interest in the Turk, but they are looking at other options as well.
Palace have joined the race for Kabak as they look to offload Mamadou Sakho and James Tomkins who are nearing the end of their contract.
The London-based club also wants to reduce the average age of their squad. This is a potential blow for United who are reportedly after the 20-year-old. (h/t Daily Mail)
Kabak has a staunch reputation abroad. He was the Bundesliga Rookie of the Year in his first season with Schalke in 2019, just after winning the Turkish league with Galatasaray the year prior to it.
A bullet dodged?
The centre-back is available for somewhere around £25m. However, it could prove to a bullet dodged by United as he starts in a defence that is at the bottom of the Bundesliga this season.
Schalke are yet to win or keep a clean sheet in any of the 9 games Kabak has played for them. This includes an 8-0 thrashing against Bayern Munich on the opening day of the season.
United do have a trusted pair in Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire. However, the duo has not faced any serious threat to their starting spots at the club.
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In that regard, Kabak could also spur competition within the defensive ranks and drive up the performance levels of others. But for that to happen, United would have to fend off a host of clubs to land him.
