Manchester United have reportedly entered the race to sign 21-year-old Brighton & Hove Albion starlet Tariq Lamptey in January.
According to a report from Fichajes, Manchester United have joined the race to sign Tariq Lamptey. The 21-year-old Brighton & Hove Albion defender has emerged as a priority target as the club looks to add more competition for Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the upcoming January transfer window.
A €3.3 million signing from Chelsea in January 2020, Lamptey has been a major revelation in the Brighton side over the past couple of years. He has notched up 26 competitive appearances for the club, emerging as one of England’s brightest prospects in the right-back position.
The former Chelsea academy talent had missed a major chunk of last season due to a hamstring injury. But the 21-year-old has returned to full fitness and has managed to impress the onlookers with his consistent performances in the Premier League with the Seagulls.
What makes him an appealing target for Manchester United, in particular, is his attacking prowess. Standing at 1.63m, the 21-year-old is blessed with sheer pace, while his low centre of gravity allows him to squeeze through tight spaces. The right-back is also capable of producing useful crosses down the flanks.
Moreover, Lamptey offers a lot of versatility as he can play anywhere across the right flank. It makes him an ideal alternative for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who has faced a lot of criticism this season for his lack of attacking work rate, coupled with consistent defensive errors.
The potential addition of the Brighton defender, in that regard, could solve Manchester United’s right-back problem. It may also allow the club to finally offload Diogo Dalot in the upcoming January transfer window. The Portuguese international was linked with a summer move to Borussia Dortmund and is one of the key targets for Jose Mourinho at AS Roma.
However, Manchester United are expected to face stiff competition from Premier League rivals Arsenal in the pursuit of Lamptey. The Gunners have reportedly rekindled their interest in the young right-back, who is expected to cost a fortune given the way Brighton had dealt with the situation of Ben White in the summer.
In fact, it won’t be surprising to see the 21-year-old former Chelsea starlet being valued in excess of €50 million in January, potentially forcing Manchester United to look for other alternatives in the market.
