Manchester United have reportedly been told to cough up a transfer fee of £60 million, if they wish to sign Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the summer window.
According to a report from the Daily Mail, Premier League outfit Crystal Palace have slapped a £60 million price tag on promising young defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who has emerged as a top transfer target for Manchester United.
21-year-old Wan-Bissaka burst onto the scenes in the second half of the 2017-18 campaign and has gone on to establish himself as the first-choice right-back for Palace ever since. The 2018-19 season saw the youngster further enhance his reputation on the back of some stellar displays, ultimately being named the club Player of the Year.
Wan-Bissaka’s rapid progress hasn’t gone unnoticed with a number of Premier League clubs showing an interest in securing his services, none more so than Manchester United. The Red Devils are in for a major squad rebuild after a disastrous 2018-19 campaign and the right-back slot is likely to be high on manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s list.
Captain and long-time servant Antonio Valencia is on his way out of Manchester United, with his contract expiring in a few weeks. Veteran Ashley Young, who has penned a new one-year deal with the club, has looked way below the level required, leaving the Red Devils with just Diogo Dalot as the option at right-back heading into next season.
The Portuguese has done fairly well in the limited opportunities that came his way, but is still raw in some aspects of his game. Given Young’s struggles in the past few months and Dalot’s relative inexperience, it would make sense that Manchester United look for a new right-back to supplement the squad moving forward.
And in Wan-Bissaka, they would have a player who, along with Dalot, has the capability to address the right-back issue for years to come. The 21-year-old has proven himself to be a reliable defender, but also offers good energy and athleticism to join up and support attacks.
However, Manchester United have now been told to shell out a whopping £60 million to sign him by Crystal Palace. The Eagles are in firm control of the situation, given that Wan-Bissaka has still three years left on his contract and are making the most of their advantage by placing an exorbitant price tag on their asset.
Given that Wan-Bissaka has had just one full season at the top level under his belt, the valuation certainly seems inflated. And it is unlikely that Manchester United would give in to Palace’s demands, considering that they have other key areas on the pitch that need strengthening as well.
As things stand, a move to Old Trafford for the 21-year-old Wan-Bissaka may not happen in the upcoming window, if the Eagles remain firm on their asking price for the player.
