Pranav Kannan
Transfer News: Lyon ahead of Manchester United in Tyrell Malacia race
According to the Mirror (h/t Manchester Evening News), French outfit Lyon are said to be well ahead of Manchester United and Newcastle United in the race for talented Dutch left-back Tyrell Malacia this summer.
Nicknamed the ‘pitbull’ for his aggressive playstyle, Malacia joined Feyenoord U17 in 2015 and has since then progressed through the ranks before breaking into the first team in 2017. He has impressed during his time with the first team ever since.
The 22-year-old full-back has played 50 times for the Eredivisie team this season scoring one goal and providing five assists across all competitions. His performances have not gone unnoticed and he is touted with a big move away this summer.
Both Manchester United and Lyon are said to be interested in signing the player but it has emerged that the French club are well ahead in the race for the defender, having now tabled a £12million bid for him.
The left-back conundrum?
Left-back has always been a position of uncertainty for Man United over the years. Except for the past couple of seasons when Luke Shaw has made that position his own, we have not had a nailed first-choice player in that position.
Alex Telles is the automatic replacement for Shaw at left-back but Manchester United also have Brandon Williams and even Diogo Dalot in their ranks who can do a job in that position. The latter though will probably have to do a job in his natural right-back role next season.
Alex Telles has failed to replicate the kind of form he showed during his time at Porto and there is a chance that the Red Devils are looking to reshuffle the pack in the left-back area. This means that both Telles and Williams could be placed on the shopping list.
That leaves Luke Shaw as the only left-back in the first team but Man United have in their U-23 ranks the highly talented Alvaro Fernandez who can be promoted to the first team and used as a backup to the Englishman.
However, it is still not evident if Fernandez is ready to take up a first-team role yet and could be loaned out to continue his development. Luke Shaw, for all his quality always has an injury lurking around the corner, and hence it would be wise to procure a talented alternative.
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This is where Tyrell Malacia could be a smart addition. He is talented, young, and would have a point to prove if he joins a massive club such as Man Utd. While left-back doesn’t look like a position that needs urgent reshuffling, we would do well to solidify it regardless.
