With the final game of the 2017-18 English domestic season taking place on Saturday when we face Chelsea in the FA Cup final, Manchester United will soon be heading into a busy summer of transfer activity.
Since the close of the January transfer window we have been linked with numerous stars as Jose Mourinho is widely-expected to make a number of big investments before the start of next season.
One position that it appears the boss wants to upgrade is at right-back. This is despite Antonio Valencia being a solid performer in that role since converting from a winger several years ago. However, the Ecuadorian does turn 33 over the summer.
We don’t have any strong backups in this position with Victor Lindelof covering at times for the captain, and Matteo Darmian not in Jose’s good books. The Italian full-back is also expected to be sold this summer.
It now looks as though we are set to complete our first transfer of the summer as The Sun are reporting that we have agreed to pay the £44 million release clause in the contract of Napoli right-back Elseid Hysaj.
The Albanian has been one of the top players in his position around Europe over the past couple of seasons as his side narrowly missed out on the 2017-18 Serie A title.
We are ready to activate the £44 million buyout clause in the 24-year-old’s contract this summer, which the Sun report that we believe is good value for money in today’s market.
Elseid Hysaj is an old school, defensive full-back. Should we sign him this summer he would be a completely different option to what we currently have in Antonio Valencia. Hysaj doesn’t have a good cross on him nor does he bomb forward. The stats back this up – he has no goals and only one assist in his 34 Serie A appearances this season, and wasn’t involved in any goals in his six Champions League group stage appearances.
