Why Manchester United should sign Facundo Medina with an eye on the future
According to claims from French outlet Le10 Sport (h/t Daily Express), Man United are keeping close tabs on RC Lens defender Facundo Medina ahead of the January transfer window.
As per the report, the Red Devils are on the lookout for a new centre-back during the mid-season trading period and have shortlisted Medina as one of the potential targets. It has been claimed that the Argentine isn’t a priority at Old Trafford but United could firm up their interest if the 21-year-old continues to impress in France.
Medina rose through the youth ranks of River Plate in Argentina but never made a senior competitive appearance for his boyhood club. He eventually shot to prominence following his move to fellow top-flight outfit Talleres in January 2018 and went on to make 37 appearances for the club in all competitions.
The youngster’s growing reputation in his homeland prompted Ligue 1 outfit RC Lens to offer him a route to Europe this past summer. Medina has grabbed his opportunity with both hands to establish himself as a regular starter in the French top-flight, scoring once in 11 league appearances so far. The centre-back’s impressive start to life at Lens was rewarded with a senior debut for Argentina in October.
Meanwhile, Man United went level on points with Liverpool after a win vs Aston Villa and have emerged as genuine title contenders, courtesy of a 10-game unbeaten run in the top-flight.
United haven’t been short of goals this term, scoring 33 in 16 games so far. However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have often struggled for consistency at the back, conceding 24 goals in the process. Having said that, the Red Devils should weigh up options to plug their leaky defence in the winter market. That would certainly improve their chances of challenging Liverpool for the PL crown.
Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof have been the undisputed first-choice centre-backs for Solskjaer but neither player has hit top gear so far this season. Besides that, Eric Bailly and Axel Tuanzebe have struggled to convince as quality alternatives while Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo have been frozen out of the mix.
Putting things into context, Man United can certainly do with a new centre-back to improve competition for places. A potential deal for Facundo Medina, to that end, would add some much-needed depth and quality to Solskjaer’s backline. The youngster is only playing his first season in Europe but has already impressed enough to earn himself a senior international cap for Argentina.
Verdict
Facundo Medina has caught the eye with his potential in France and looks capable of evolving into a quality centre-back in the coming years. The 21-year-old might not be an immediate game-changer for Man United but he would offer some valuable cover, nevertheless.
With Tuanzebe and Bailly hardly the most reliable alternatives, the Argentine starlet could play a part at Old Trafford during a hectic second half of the campaign.
Read More
- Why Manchester United are better off without Hakan Calhanoglu
- Why Harry Kane can be a dream signing for Manchester United
More importantly, a potential move for the youngster could see United benefit from his potential moving forward. Medina still has plenty of room for development and with Solskjaer not shying away from putting his trust in young talents, the centre-back could be set for a big future at the club.
