Man Utd get ‘serious’ over the ‘next Nuno Mendes’

Manchester United's search for a new left-back has taken them to France, where Rennes youngster Mahamadou Nagida has emerged as a serious option ahead of January.

The 21-year-old Cameroon international has enjoyed a breakthrough year in Ligue 1, with his explosive attacking qualities even drawing comparisons to Paris Saint-Germain star Nuno Mendes.

United’s interest in Nagida was initially reported by TeamTalk, which claims that the Red Devils are seeking immediate arrivals in January.

The left-back area is one position that is regarded with a sense of urgency. Diogo Dalot has been deputising for the injured Luke Shaw in that area, which has also caused trouble out on the right.

After missing out on Lewis Hall in the summer after they were unable to force Newcastle into a sale, the Old Trafford side are looking to recruit two left-backs, with a “genuine possibility” that there is a new arrival in January.

And Nagida could be this signing, with the Rennes star seen as a “serious option”. Man Utd have watched him on several occasions and the 21-year-old has attracted “a series of encouraging scouting reports”.

Nagida’s performances have been hailed this season in France, with the Cameroon international drawing favourable comparisons to PSG’s Nuno Mendes, who is widely considered to be setting the standards for left-backs in world football.

“The Portuguese player is in a very different league, but there are similarities,” Canal+ pundit and Ligue 1 coaching veteran Frederic Antonetti told Canal+ following a Europa League fixture against OFI Crete – one of the games Man Utd’s scouts took in.

“Against OFI, Nagida had freedom on his wing, he wasn’t attacked too much and he took advantage of it. He has explosiveness, speed, a good left foot, he was decisive.”

His attacking qualities can be explained by the fact that he started out his career as a winger before dropping back into defence, though he was also used as a right-back extensively by Rennes last season.

But this would have been little concern to a young man who has a strong mentality.

“He's full of life, both calm and impulsive, he never doubts himself, he doesn't fear pressure,” Rennes academy general secretary Jean Flaubert Nono told L’Equipe.

This was evidenced by his strong display for Cameroon against Morocco in the AFCON quarter-final – the biggest match of his career to date.

But there is consistency in Nagida’s game, too. According to data analytics firm SciSports, he is the third best-performing full-back in Ligue 1 this season, while the data analytics experts also note that he could develop into a key player for Man Utd should he reach his maximum potential.

His progress has not gone unnoticed, with Man Utd simply joining an extensive list of admirers who have been trying to take the dynamic full-back away from Rennes for much of the last 18 months.

Brighton, AC Milan, Porto, Roma, Lyon and Marseille are just some of the teams who have tracked Nagida, who has seen his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) explode to €14.6 million this season.

Nagida has so far resisted transfer interest, preferring to establish himself in Ligue 1, but there is an increasing body of evidence to suggest that he is outgrowing France, and if Man Utd were to have a January transfer offer accepted, the prospect of the move may be too big to resist.

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