Manchester United and Arsenal are keeping tabs on Borussia Monchengladbach star Alassane Plea with a move to sign him in the summer transfer window.
According to a report from the Daily Mail, Premier League bigwigs and arch-rivals Manchester United and Arsenal are closely monitoring Borussia Monchengladbach forward Alassane Plea as the clubs eye attacking reinforcements in the summer transfer window.
A product of the Lyon setup, Plea had stints at AJ Auxerre and OGC Nice before he signed for Gladbach in the summer of 2018, in a deal worth £21 million. The 28-year-old has not exactly been prolific in his three-year stint in Germany, but has been a fairly consistent performer, racking up 36 goals and 20 assists in his 104 appearances till date.
The ongoing campaign has seen Plea accumulate a tally of 11 goals and 5 assists from 36 games across all competitions. Able to play anywhere across the frontline, the Frenchman’s versatility, ability to link-up play with those around him along with his blistering pace make him a key asset to the Bundesliga outfit.
However, heading into the summer, Plea’s future at Borussia Park is far from certain. The 28-year-old will be out of contract in a little over a year and there is a feeling that he could be allowed to leave in the upcoming transfer window, for a reported transfer fee of around £15 million. This development has seemingly alerted both Manchester United and Arsenal, who are closely tracking the situation.
Manchester United are in the market for a new forward as Anthony Martial has failed to produce the goods once again in front of goal while Edinson Cavani, who arrived on a free transfer last summer, could be on his way out when his current deal expires. While Mason Greenwood has done well of late, another consistent source of goals is something that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer & co. need to take the next step in their development.
Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland remains Manchester United’s top target, but the competition for his signing and his massive valuation could render the Red Devils incapable of moving in for the Norwegian. To that end, Plea is being considered as a possible alternative given as his versatility and speed would be a good fit into Solskjaer’s side.
As for Arsenal, they, too, will be in need of a new centre-forward as there are serious question marks over the future of their senior centre-forwards. Alexandre Lacazette’s contract runs out at the end of the next season and there have been reports claiming that the Gunners could look to offload him, along with Eddie Nketiah in the summer.
Add to it, club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s disappointing campaign has also led to speculations about his standing within Arsenal as well, despite the Gabonese striker penning a new contract only last year. While it is unlikely that the North Londoners would let both Lacazette and Aubameyang leave, there could at least be one potential departure, warranting the addition of a new forward, explaining their interest in Plea.
It now remains to be seen if either Arsenal or Manchester United turn their interest in Plea into a formal approach this summer or move for alternate targets such as Kelechi Iheanacho of Leicester City.
