Krishnan Sreekumar
Former Premier League ace Darren Bent urges Manchester United to sign Brighton & Hove Albion star Yves Bissouma
Speaking to talkSPORT (h/t Express), ex-Premier League striker Darren Bent has urged Manchester United to go after Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Yves Bissouma as an alternative to the expensive Declan Rice.
West Ham United’s Rice is another midfield option that has been linked to a move to the Red Devils at the end of the season. The 23-year-old has excelled for the Hammers over the past few years, and even become an important part of the England national team.
Bent, who won the League Cup with Tottenham Hotspur, said that although United need a holding midfield player, he does not think that they will splash the cash on Rice. Instead, the former ace urged them to go after Bissouma, saying that he is a really good player.
“Listen, they need a holding midfield player. They should have got one of them in a little while ago. I don’t think they’re going to stump up the money [for Rice], West Ham look like they’re happy to hold onto him. So someone I’d like to see them sign, I think he’s a really good player, Yves Bissouma.”
The Manchester side’s last Premier League fixture was against Brighton, where Bissouma played a crucial role in the middle of the pitch to hand his opponents a heavy 4-0 defeat. The 25-year-old ran the show in midfield, showing the Red Devils what they were missing in their team.
“I think he’s gettable as well”
Not just against United, the Mali international has impressed for Brighton ever since his move to the south coast from Lille in 2018. He has settled into the English top-flight quickly, where his physical attributes and range of passing have held up against some of the top sides.
Bent said that the player could improve the Old Trafford outfit as he was not just an average box-to-box midfielder, but can also roam about on the pitch and make an impact. The former Spurs man also believed that Bissouma is gettable in the summer, so United should go out and snap him up.
“I think he’s a top player at Brighton, really good. I think he’s gettable as well. I think he would improve Manchester United as well because he’s not just your average box-to-box, he can get about. I think he’s a top drawer midfielder so I would probably go out and get him.”
It is no secret that the midfield has long been a weak link for the English giants, yet nothing has been done to improve their fortunes in the recent past. A strong holding midfielder has been missing from the team ever since the retirement of Michael Carrick in 2018, but a replacement is yet to be signed.
The Red Devils made a move for Donny van de Beek in 2020, but the Dutchman has not been given enough opportunities to make his mark on the team. In fact, he was shipped out on loan to Everton in January, and will return to the club in the summer.
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Nemanja Matic is the only defensive midfielder in the squad, but the Serbian has announced his departure at the end of the season. There lies a vacancy in the middle of the park at United, and Bent’s opinion of Bissouma makes it seem like the Malian could prove to be the solution for the Manchester side.
It remains to be seen if incoming new manager Erik ten Hag has identified the Brighton star as someone that could fit into his new-look team. However, Bissouma’s name cannot be discredited as a potential transfer target, and the Dutchman could perhaps benefit from having someone like him in his squad as he looks to begin his maiden campaign in the Premier League next term.
