Why Manchester United should sign Ousmane Dembele in January
According to Mundo Deportivo (h/t Daily Mail), Manchester United could return for Ousmane Dembele in January. With the season now in full swing and Manchester United playing catch-up, the club are likely to bring in reinforcements in the January transfer window. The report does mention that it could be a loan deal until the end of the season.
Profile
Ousmane Dembele is a 23-year-old French winger who plays for FC Barcelona. The lanky winger started his youth career at Madeleine Evreux in 2004 and moved to Rennes’ youth team in 2010.
He spent 5 years in the youth teams and made his first start for Rennes II in 2014. Finally, in 2015, he broke into the first-team at Stade Rennais. He made 29 appearances that season, scored 12 goals and made 5 assists (source – Transfermarkt).
Borussia Dortmund signed him in 2016 and he exploded onto the scene. His pace, trickery and ambipedal nature were there for everyone to see. He played 50 games for the German outfit that season and contributed to 32 goals (10 goals + 22 assists).
The following season, he forced a move to Barcelona for a gargantuan transfer fee. It has not gone to plan since then. Injuries have plagued him and that has restricted him to just 81 appearances so far. He has missed a total of 80 games for the club in that duration (source – Transfermarkt).
Dembele has featured 21 times for his country and won the FIFA World Cup in 2018.
Manchester United should look to bring in Dembele in January
While Manchester United showed improvement in attack and defence last season, it has all gone to the cleaners this time. The forwards are struggling to recreate last season’s form, the defenders look even more error-prone and the midfield just looks lifeless.
It was clear that they needed more than the likes of Cavani, Van de Beek and Alex Telles. Amad Diallo and Facundo Pellistri are for the future and no expectations can be placed on them right now. The club’s pursuit of Sancho was almost blatantly foolish with them hoping that Dortmund would ease on their valuation of the player. Later, they failed to get any senior player for the right-wing position.
A deal for Dembele is very necessary as the club try to navigate a tricky season in which they have already lost so much ground.
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They need quality in the attacking third and with Dembele already hitting the mark this season, it would be unwise of United to not go for him. Yes, he has a record of injuries which could resurface especially in the Premier League but it is a gamble they have to take.
