Manchester United have reportedly seen an offer for Benoit Badiashile being knocked back by AS Monaco, who have no intention to sell him.
As reported by The Sun, Manchester United might have to look elsewhere in their bid to sign a centre-back in the summer transfer window. The Red Devils have had a substantial bid for Benoit Badiashile being rejected by AS Monaco, who intend to keep hold of the promising defender.
Benoit Badiashile is widely regarded as one of the best young defenders in Europe. Currently at AS Monaco, the 19-year-old has become a mainstay in defence since breaking into the club’s first-team setup, making almost 50 appearances for the senior side.
His progress has attracted a number of top clubs across Europe, potentially putting Monaco in a precarious position. The latest in the long line of suitors are Manchester United, who have had their sights set on the teenage prodigy for quite some time now.
The interest from Manchester United makes a great deal of sense, when one takes a closer look at the central defensive options at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s disposal. While Harry Maguire has done well since arriving from Leicester City in a record deal last summer, his usual partner Victor Lindelof has been inconsistent.
Beyond the duo, Solskjaer has the likes of Eric Bailly, Axel Tuanzebe, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Chris Smalling to choose from for the heart of the Manchester United defence. However, while Smalling appears to be joining AS Roma, Jones and Rojo are extremely unreliable. Bailly and Tuanzebe, too, have had fitness troubles and are not entirely dependable.
Hence, it is imperative for Manchester United to bolster their defence by signing a centre-back this summer. Badiashile appears to be one of the central defenders who are on United’s radar. But, up until now, the Premier League heavyweights have been rebuffed in their attempts to sign the player.
The latest reports suggests the same, with Manchester United having a “sizable big” being knocked back by AS Monaco. This is in tune with the Monegasque club’s official stance on the 19-year-old, with manager Niko Kovac insisting that he is going nowhere this summer.
So, for all intents and purposes, it looks like Manchester United will have to set their sights on some other centre-back in order to sign a central defender this summer. What now remains to be seen is if the Red Devils work quickly to get such a signing over the line, with the likes of Milan Skriniar and Dayot Upamecano among those who they seem to be targeting.
