Manchester United and Tottenham might battle it out for Bayer Leverkusen defender and AFCON winner Odilon Kossounou.
According to Sport Bild via Sport Witness, Manchester United and Tottenham are set to chase Odilin Kossounou in the summer. The 21-year-old defender has seen his stocks rise following an excellent season with Bayer Leverkusen after winning the AFCON with Ivory Coast.
Odilon Kossounou as Manchester United, Tottenham’s attention
Barely anyone would have envisaged Xabi Alonso leading this Bayer Leverkusen side to a title challenge, as they are now eight points clear of reigning champions Bayern Munich. Moreover, the Spaniard has overseen an unbeaten season in the Bundesliga so far and has given numerous young stars a platform to shine.
One is Odilon Kossounou, who was reportedly considered ‘average’ before playing under Alonso. Acquired for €23 million, the Ivory Coast international already has plenty of suitors in the market, while Leverkusen might cash in on the €50 million-rated defender in the summer.
Tottenham is interested in Kossounou, with Manchester United also in the hunt. In the summer, Alonso might depart for Bayern Munich or Liverpool, while Leverkusen will always look for maximum value for their top performers, including the €50 million-rated defender.
Hence, Manchester United and Tottenham could enter into a battle for the centre-back, who has been a rock for Leverkusen. Much will depend on the offer these clubs put on the table, as the German side will indeed look to double their investment at the very least.
Tottenham Manchester United plan defender signings
The two Premier League giants have prioritised signing a new defender in the coming window. Spurs have already added a few notable names to their list, with Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite one of those. They are also interested in Jean-Clair Todibo and Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah.
Manchester United is also considering various options, as Goncalo Inacio is a target for Erik Ten Hag. They also compete with Tottenham for Todibo, while Lille youngster Leny Yoro also features on their shortlist. Either way, the Red Devils and Spurs are expected to attack the next window looking for a top-rated centre-back to shore up their respective backlines.
