Manchester United are reportedly interested in making a move for Sporting Braga youngster David Carmo, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer keen on bolstering his defensive ranks.
According to a report from the ESPN, Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s search for a left-footed centre-back has led the club to Portugal, with Sporting Braga’s David Carmo emerging as a potential target for the Red Devils.
The Norwegian tactician had been keen on signing a left-sided centre-back to partner captain Harry Maguire in the summer transfer market. Nathan Ake had been identified as a target by Solskjaer but Manchester United were beaten to his signing by neighbours and arch-rivals Manchester City. Having missed out on the Dutchman, Solskjaer has now reportedly identified Braga’s Carmo as an alternative.
The 21-year-old Carmo came through the youth ranks at the Portuguese outfit and made his senior debut in February earlier this year in a Europa League game. Since then, the centre-back has gone on to feature 27 times across all competitions, eight of which have come in the 2020/21 campaign. The 6ft 5in defender was an integral part of the Portugal Under-19 outfit that won the Under-19 European Championships in 2018.
While Braga haven’t exactly been the most solid defensive units, Carmo is held in the highest of regards in Portugal and has been attracting quite a bit of interest from the likes of Fiorentina and AS Roma from Italy. In fact, it is claimed that both the Serie A teams tried to sign up the 21-year-old in the summer, but a move failed to materialise.
And now, Manchester United, too, have entered the race to try and sign the Portuguese youngster. The Red Devils’ defensive unit has once again looked suspect on occasions this season. Eric Bailly’s never-ending injury issues continue, while Victor Lindelof hasn’t been able to convince enough, in spite of having been at the club for than three years now.
Plus, with Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo not part of the plans anymore at the club, adding another centre-back would be a smart move by the 20-time English champions, more so considering the lack of a left-footed centre-back within the ranks. And while Carmo might not be the most well-known name going around, his potential would make him a handy addition for Manchester United.
However, any move for the Portuguese Under-20 international would hinge on United’s ability to offload Jones or Rojo, or both the defenders either in January or in next summer’s transfer window. It remains to be seen if the interest in Carmo does transform into something substantial from Manchester United’s side in the coming weeks.
