Manchester United ponder move for Ligue 1 centre-back

 

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is weighing up a summer move for Lille centre-back Gabriel, claims the London Evening Standard.

 

Despite Chris Smalling's return from Roma, United are weighing up their defensive options for the new campaign in their bid to find the perfect centre-back partner for Harry Maguire.

 

Victor Lindelof has been United's preferred choice this season but Solskjaer is concerned by the lack of pace at the back.

 

Solskjaer was hoping to blood Axel Tuanzebe into the first-team picture this season but the youngster has endured a nightmare with injuries and is currently sidelined until next month.

 

United have been regularly linked with a move for Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly but appear to have moved on from the 29-year-old.

 

Ironically, Napoli want to replace Koulibaly with Gabriel but after spending more than £60m to sign his Lille team-mate, Victor Osimhen, they must first sell before they can buy.

 

And there are currently no takers for Koulibaly, with Manchester City temporarily out of the running after signing Nathan Ake from Bournemouth for £41m.

 

Everton had a deal agreed in prinicple for Gabriel worth in the region of £30m pre-lockdown before being forced to pull the plug as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, while Arsenal are also keen on the 22-year-old.

 

 

After a breakthrough year in 2018/19, Gabriel's game time doubled last season and he was integral for Lille at the back.

 

In fact, 29.6% of the total league goals Lille conceded in 2019/20 came in the five games Gabriel didn't start.

 

Moreover, a tackle success rate of 85.4% ranked top in Ligue 1, and second of centre-backs in Europe's top five leagues, of players that completed at least 40.