Manchester United are reportedly eyeing Real Sociedad defender Robin Le Normand as an option to bolster their backline in the summer transfer window.
According to a report from Spanish publication Grada3, as relayed by the Express, Manchester United are monitoring Real Sociedad’s French centre-back, Robin Le Normand, with the view of making a move for him in the summer transfer window.
The 24-year-old came through the youth ranks at Stade Brest and made just a solitary senior appearance before making the switch to Real Sociedad in the summer of 2016. After spending a few years with the club’s B team, Le Normand made his senior debut in December 2018 and has since featured 68 times so far, scoring two goals.
Pretty much an ever-present in the backline for Real Sociedad this season, Le Normand has helped Imanol Alguacil’s side post the third-best defensive record in La Liga with just 16 goals conceded from 19 matches so far. The Frenchman’s performances have now led to interest from Manchester United as per the report.
The Red Devils have a stocked defensive department as things stand. However, both Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo are out of favour and are expected to depart in the near future. Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof have been Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first-choice centre-back pairing with Eric Bailly and Axel Tuanzebe providing cover.
And while Manchester United have put in a few strong defensive displays of late, their early-season woes are enough indicators for the club to bolster their defensive ranks further in January or in the summer. RB Leipzig’s Dayot Upamecano had been heavily linked with a move, but Solskjaer & co. seem to have cooled their interest in him of late.
Instead, Upamecano’s compatriot, Le Normand, has emerged as a potential target for the 20-time English champions. The 24-year-old penned a new contract with Real Sociedad in June last year, extending his stay at the club till 2024. The agreement is also said to include a release clause worth £67 million.
Because of the huge release clause, which Sociedad are unwilling to budge on, Manchester United are unlikely to make a move for Le Normand in the ongoing transfer window and wait till the summer to test the waters with a bid. It remains to be seen if the Red Devils touted interest in the Frenchman leads to anything substantial in the coming weeks.
