Ligue 1 giants Lyon have reportedly stolen a march on Manchester United in the pursuit of Tyrell Malacia with a “surprise” £12 million bid.
According to Daily Mail, Manchester United fans may have to wait longer for their first signing of the summer, as the club are on the verge of defeat in the pursuit of Tyrell Malacia. The Premier League giants were well placed to sign the Feyenoord full-back, but a surprise £12 million bid from Lyon has altered the equation.
A product of the Feyenoord youth academy, Malacia was a target for Newcastle United as well, with many expecting him to leave the club in the summer after years of success in the Eredivisie.
The youngster from Rotterdam has indeed been a part of the Feyenoord senior side since 2017. He has racked up close to 150 competitive appearances for Dutch outfit, establishing himself as one of the finest left-backs in Eredivisie.
Known for his speed and athleticism out wide, Malacia has also won five caps for his country. The 22-year-old, though, is looking for a new challenge this summer, with Feyenoord already lining up a replacement in the form of Chelsea starlet Ian Maatsen.
Manchester United’s interest in Malacia was hardly surprising as the club are in need of fresh blood in the left-back unit. Both their first-team options in Alex Telles and Luke Shaw have failed to impress, with new coach Erik ten Hag likely to target a more technically astute option in the wide defensive role.
Having coached in the Eredivisie throughout his managerial career, ten Hag is well aware of Malacia’s qualities as a left-back. His pace and dynamism out wide, coupled with his technical prowess could make him an ideal signing for Manchester United, as they look to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season.
The report from Daily Mail indicates Lyon are currently ahead in the race to sign Malacia. But the deal is far from over. The £12 million bid from the Ligue 1 club falls short of Feyenoord’s desired £15 million, meaning Manchester United can still sneak ahead in the chase if they are open to improving their proposal.
A figure of £15 million should not ideally bother Manchester United. But the Red Devils have also invested in the pursuit of other top targets in the market, including Antony. So it won’t be surprising to see this transfer saga drag on for a few weeks before the player’s future gets decided.
