Manchester United are reportedly plotting a £25 million bid for Fulham sensation Ryan Sessegnon, also a target for Tottenham and Real Madrid.
According to The Guardian, Manchester United are ready to reinforce the left side of their defence come January. The Red Devils are plotting a £25 million bid for Fulham teenage sensation Ryan Sessegnon. But, the likes of Tottenham and Real Madrid will likely provide tough competition to United in pursuit of the left-back.
Ryan Sessegnon entered the radar of a lot of clubs in the summer, with the player making his senior debut for Fulham in the 2016-17 campaign. Add to that the fact that the youngster finished the Under-19 European Championship as the joint goalscorer (3 goals), despite being a defender, further adds to the hype around his talent.
Now an established member of the first-team setup at Craven Cottage, the player has missed just 21 minutes of regulation playing time in Fulham’s Championship campaign so far, with a credible return of 4 goals and 2 assists. His growing stature has not gone unnoticed, with an array of clubs behind him from a long time.
But, of the clubs named, it seems Manchester United, Real Madrid and Tottenham are the ones that are leading the charge.
At Manchester United, the fans see Luke Shaw as their long-term left-back. Unfortunately, the manager seems to be unable to agree with the fans, with the player himself not doing himself any favours in this regard. His performances have improved recently, which might just salvage his United career.
Manchester United are preparing a £25m offer for Fulham teenager Ryan Sessegnon, and are prepared to allow Luke Shaw to leave to accommodate him. (Source: Guardian) pic.twitter.com/a4BSd5OJ3X
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) December 23, 2017
Even if Manchester United retain Shaw, there are no real long-term options apart from the former Southampton man, making the 17-year-old Sessegnon a viable target. The player can share game time with Shaw and Ashley Young for the foreseeable future before potentially making the spot his own.
Sessegnon’s playing style will be an ideal match to United’s option on the other end of the defence, Antonio Valencia. The marauding nature of the full-backs has been a trademark for all Manchester United teams, which makes Sessegnon an ideal addition to the squad at Old Trafford.
Tottenham though, are also in need of a left-back, with doubts over Danny Rose’s future at the club. The player’s explosive interview has seen Pochettino drop Rose to the bench for the big games as an aftermath and with the player not taking the bench role too well, he seems to be heading towards an exit.
Pochettino’s rapport with young players and the unbelievably strong English core at Tottenham might be one of the main attractions for Sessegnon, should he choose to leave Fulham for a bigger club.
Tottenham Hotspur are expected to match any bid Man Utd make for Fulham defender Ryan Sessegnon. [@Guardian_Sport] #COYS#THFC pic.twitter.com/heFk5oyuWo
— Ricky Sacks ? (@RickSpur) December 23, 2017
No club though, comes bigger than the current World Champions themselves. Real Madrid have stuttered a bit this season in terms of results. But, their squad depth and star power is second to none.
One bone of contention will be the presence of Marcelo and Theo Hernandez at Santiago Bernabeu. Theo is widely regarded as the true heir to Marcelo in the longer term and Sessegnon might have to be content with playing second fiddle, if he does end up at Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, Manchester United are intent on beating their competitors in Sessegnon’s pursuit. The Red Devils are plotting a £25 million bid for the 17-year-old come January. Fulham might not be convinced by the amount though, with Tottenham seeing their bid of a similar figure being rejected in the summer.
Fulham manager Slavisa Jankovic has admitted that the 17-year-old’s future is uncertain, with the amount of interest, with reports that a bid in the region of £30 million might make the offer too good to refuse. And United should have no qualms in meeting the demanded figure.
The ball seems to be in Manchester United’s court and they should smash it home come January.
