Man United Opinion: Red Devils should make a move for William Saliba
According to the Daily Mail, Man United are interested in signing 18-year-old centre-back William Saliba from Saint Etienne in the summer, with reports claiming that the youngster has caught the eyes of several top clubs across Europe.
Saliba, who only turned 18 earlier in March, is currently valued at around £25 million by Saint Etienne and the French club would demand that he is loaned back to them for at least another season. (h/t Daily Mail)
The teenager has enjoyed a wonderful breakout season in the Ligue 1 this term, making a total of 13 appearances in all competitions, including 7 starts in the league.
Well, it is pretty obvious that if an 18-year-old is valued at £25 million, with Man United showing interest, then there must be something in the player which makes him really special. So, let us get a deeper insight into one of Ligue 1’s brightest defensive prospects- Saint Etienne’s William Saliba.
Background
Born in Bondby, a commune in the north eastern suburbs of Paris, France, Saliba started playing football as a kid and was coached by Wilfried Mbappe- the father of Kylian Mbappe.
He joined Saint Etienne’s youth set up in 2016 and signed his first professional contract in the summer of 2018. Saliba made his senior debut for Saint Etienne in a 3-2 victory over Toulouse in Ligue 1 last September.
A regular for France at the youth level, Saliba has a won a total of 21 caps for his nation till the U19 level.
Style of Play
Currently standing at 6ft.4 inches with a towering frame, Saliba is already a tall and powerful defender and one would expect him to gain a few more inches in the years to come. As mentioned above, Saliba is a strong and powerful centre-back who likes to stamp his authority with his physicality and aerial ability.
However, the youngster hasn’t attracted interest from Man United just because of his big frame. Very strong in the air and quick across the ground, Saliba has shown maturity that belies his tender years in terms of composure, discipline and decision-making at the back.
Young defenders in the same mould often show a tendency to dive into reckless challenges and let the team down with occasional mental freezes but Saliba is really an exception.
Saliba has developed a good understanding of the game very early in his career, often making the right choice between going into a tackle or standing on his feet to intercept.
Well, he is equally good at both, getting himself into the right position to make tackles, while also positioning himself perfectly to anticipate the key passes from the opposition in the final third.
It is very important for modern-day defenders to be comfortable with the ball at their feet and Saliba ticks that box as well. He has worked on his ball-playing abilities and currently boasts of a pass accuracy percentage of 84.2 in the Ligue 1.
The 18-year-old has averaged 2.1 tackles, 1.9 interceptions, 2.2 clearances and 1.3 aerial duels this season, figures which are impressive for a young player. In fact, he has completed 21 of his attempted 27 tackles in the league so far, whilst picking up just a single booking.
What does the future hold?
William Saliba is making plenty of noise in his debut season in Ligue 1 and Man United’s interest in the player is enough evidence of the fact that he is an immensely talented player with loads of potential.
If a move to Old Trafford does materialize in the summer, Saliba would probably be loaned back to Saint Etienne to further his development.
Making the step up to the Premier League would present a big jump both in terms of quality and intensity, something which might stall his progress. He needs regular minutes to hone his skills and staying in Ligue 1 for another full season could work wonders for him.
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To conclude, Saliba looks destined for big things and has the potential to be a household name in Europe in the next five years or so.
