Manchester United have been monitoring Greek international defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos as a potential summer transfer target.
Manchester United are exploring the possibility of signing Borussia Dortmund centre-half Sokratis Papastathopoulos in the summer, according to reports from the Daily Mirror.
Manchester United are understood to be targeting a new defensive signing before the next season commences with manager Jose Mourinho not entirely convinced of the options he currently has at his disposal.
Summer signing Victor Lindelof has struggled to adapt to his new surroundings while the issue of consistency continue to plague long-time club servants Chris Smalling and Phil Jones.
Mourinho has reportedly made Tottenham Hotspur star Toby Alderweireld his primary transfer target for the summer and remains confident of landing the Belgian, given his ongoing contract situation with the North London outfit.
However, the Portuguese tactician also has Sokratis on his radar as well and could decide to bring in the Greek international should a move for Alderweireld fail to materialize. Manchester United’s Premier League rivals Chelsea and Arsenal too have been credited with interest in the 29-year old, but it is believed that the Red Devils will have the upper hand in the chase.
Sokratis joined Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2013 and has been a consistent performer for the German outfit ever since. He has racked up a total of 189 appearances for the club in total, scoring 10 goals in the process and has won a DFB Pokal and two DFB Super Cups. The 78-time capped Greek international has featured 34 times for Peter Stoger’s side this term in all competitions and remains a vital part of the squad.
However, with his contract set to expire in the summer of 2019, Manchester United believe that they have a genuine chance of signing the defender before the next campaign. It is being claimed that the twenty-time English champions have scouted the player on a number of occasions over the course of the season and the player is believed to have received glowing feedback from the United scouts.
A vastly experienced campaigner who can slot in seamlessly at both centre-back and right-back Sokratis can be a valuable asset to this United side, should he arrive in the summer. The 29-year old may not be one of the biggest stars in the world of football, but has constantly proven himself at this level and will definitely strengthen Mourinho’s side as they look to overthrow rivals Manchester City from the perch of English football next season.
