Manchester United in transfer tussle to sign Dan-Axel Zagadou

Manchester United are reportedly set to compete with OGC Nice in the race to sign 23-year-old centre-back Dan-Axel Zagadou.

According to Foot Mercato, the race to sign Dan-Axel Zagadou is heating up. The 23-year-old centre-back has become a sought-after prospect in the market after running out his contract at Borussia Dortmund. He will be a free agent and has been targeted by a host of clubs across Europe, including Manchester United.

However, the report suggests the Premier League giants could face fresh competition from OGC Nice. The French outfit are preparing a fresh move for the free agent, who has hinted at his desire to return to Ligue 1 earlier this year. Nice’s interest in the player has been further fueled by the appointment of Lucien Favre.

The veteran Swiss coach has returned to the helm at Nice. He is well aware of Zagadou’s qualities, having worked with him for a couple of years at Dortmund. Standing at 1.96m, Zagadou is indeed a defensive monster who can be surprisingly gifted with the ball at his feet.

Manchester United’s interest in Zagadou is hardly surprising as the Premier League are currently in the market for a new centre-back. The Red Devils are poised to part ways with Eric Bailly in the summer, amid links with Newcastle United, whereas Phil Jones should be offloaded as well.

Manchester United are also unimpressed by the performances of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof. The club’s board believes some fresh competition could do them well, and that is where Dan-Axel Zagadou comes into the fray.

The 23-year-old’s status as a free agent makes him a financially feasible option for Manchester United, while he also brings considerable experience at the highest level of football.

At the same time, acquiring the services of Zagadou could turn out to be a gamble as well. The former PSG youth academy has had a poor injury record and his performances at Dortmund were far from impressive. The 23-year-old never really managed to fulfil his potential at the club, often appearing too error-prone and lacking the mobility required at the highest level.

As such, Zagadou won’t be much of an upgrade from what Manchester United currently have. In any case, the Premier League outfit are unlikely to prevail in the race as the defender fancies a return to Ligue 1, and in OGC Nice, he could find himself a familiar face in Lucien Favre and a club that are willing to hand him the platform to revive his career.