Having a star player like Alexis Sanchez and prolific striker like Lukaku are always gonna be regarded as their strong point. They have played defensive though throughout the season, but the defensive layout made them suffer. The combination Valencia and Smalling never seen that tight and the goalkeeper had to do a mountain wrecked work to save the side from swallowing goals. David De Gea has done a terrible job for United ahead the bars and made the defensive lags, lighten to somewhat. It was reported that the Mourinho co. are gonna redecorate their last line before entering into the next season. This time it is a defender who reported to be heavily linked with the Old Trafford club.
According to the source, Manchester United is targeting the Napoli defender Elseid Hysaj this summer. Not only the United, other Premier League sides like Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City are also after his signature. The Albanian right back is considered and thought as the long time replacement of Antonio Valencia. Hysaj may join the Red Devils if his £43.7m release clause is met. He joined Napoli from Empoli in 2015. After then he has gone on to make 131 appearances in all competitions for the Serie A side. The Italian side is four points below the leader Juventus at this moment with four games left. Juventus has a serious chance to overshadow the defending champions this time and clinch the Serie A title. Though the The 24-year-old has done his part quite efficiently with making 31 league appearances this season, averaging a tackle or interception every 29 minutes.
On the other hand, the future of Valencia at Old Trafford is uncertain. The Ecuadorian international has been featured in the right back position all along the season but can be out of Old Trafford as the manager needs more consistency in the side backs. His contract is ending in the next season and maybe it will get no renewal. Hysaj could be his potential replacement but he won’t come cheap. Having a release clause of £44m and being a regular starter of the Napoli side, the pursuit of the side back would be tougher than it appears.
Chelsea and Liverpool both will try their best to grab this in from defender, so United is going to face a stiff challenge from the fellow Premier League sides. The Blues will surely want the 24-year-old ‘perfect’ for the Premier League to Stamford Bridge. As it is reported Chelsea is in search of a potential replace of Davide Zappacosta, whose Chelsea career is in doubt after a unimpressive first season in the Premier League.
Hysaj is versatile in nature. This guy is most comfortable at right back but has shown he can fill in wherever there are gaps.
Among all of them, Liverpool are the side, who seem to have the least need for the former Empoli star with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez and Nathaniel Clyne all playing on the right this campaign.
It will be a tough competition for all of them to have the in form player in the side.