Manchester United to consider three replacements if youngster leaves

Manchester United have three players on their transfer shortlist if the youngster does end up leaving Old Trafford next summer.

As reported by Spanish publication named Fichajes, Manchester United have shortlisted three players to replace Timothy Fosu-Mensah in the upcoming summer transfer window, if he does indeed end up leaving. When United signed him from the Ajax academy back in 2014, he was considered one to watch out for in the future. But nearly six years have passed since then and the Red Devils’ fans are yet to witness the best of the Dutchman.

Knowing that Fosu-Mensah would provide the much-needed cover, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer allowed Diogo Dalot to leave in the summer transfer window. In order to play regular first-team football, he joined AC Milan on a season-long loan.

Dalot’s departure was also supposed to make some breathing room for Fosu-Mensah and serve as the second choice right-back behind Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Many felt that the Dutchman needed that space having remained on the sidelines for a long period due to various injuries.

Although his first loan spell at Crystal Palace was quite a successful one, the same cannot be said about his latest one-year loan spell with Fulham, which turned out to be a disaster when he got badly injured.

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He has played only two matches this season for United so far but is reportedly a likeable character around the AON Training Complex in Carrington. And hence, it is believed that he has been offered a new contract extension by the club. There is no news of him having put pen to paper on that deal though.

If the Spanish reports are indeed true then Manchester United have formed a shortlist of three right-backs — Emerson Royal, Ricardo Pereira, and Max Aarons.

Emerson is a Brazilian right-back currently plying his trade for Real Betis. FC Barcelona and Real Betis signed him together in a pretty complex deal. As various reports suggest, both Spanish sides paid half of the full-back’s €12.7 million transfer fee while signing him from Atletico Mineiro.

Premier League fans should be familiar with the other two names on the list. While Pereira plays for Leicester City, Aarons showcased glimpses of his brilliance while playing for Norwich City last season.

Aarons, currently playing in the Championship, would be a more affordable signing than two other prospects. However, everything depends on whether Fosu-Mensah chooses to stay put at Old Trafford or leaves for free (the Dutchman’s contract ends in June 2021) in the next summer to continue his career elsewhere.