Man Utd add left-back compared to Nuno Mendes to their five-player January shortlist just hours before Aston Villa game
Manchester United have put together a shortlist of five players to help fix their left-back problem in January. One of their newest targets has even been compared to Paris Saint-Germain star Nuno Mendes.
The left-back spot has been a real challenge for Michael Carrick this season. After a tough summer left him with mainly Luke Shaw as the first-choice option, things got worse when Shaw got injured during the game against Tottenham Hotspur on October 10.
Since then, United have tried three different players—Noussair Mazraoui, Ayden Heaven, and Diogo Dalot—but none really solved the problem. So, as the January transfer window approaches, scouts Jason Wilcox and Christopher Vivell are working hard to find a solid left-back.
According to TEAMtalk’s Graeme Bailey on November 7, Rennes defender Mahamadou Nagida is now seen as a strong choice after some promising scouting reports. United have watched Nagida closely in Europa League games against Juventus and Olympiacos, where the 21-year-old impressed with his energy, attacking runs, and defensive work.
Nagida, from Cameroon, is becoming one of the top young full-backs in France’s Ligue 1. He has already made two assists in five league games this season, showing he can contribute in attack.
He started out at the Ecole de Football Brasseries du Cameroun academy before moving to France. His coach, Frederic Antonetti, told L’Equipe that Nagida’s speed, power, and left foot make him share some traits with Nuno Mendes, who is one of the world’s best left-backs. “He’s not at Mendes’ level yet, but there are some similarities,” Antonetti said. “He has everything needed to get better.”
Nagida’s stats back up these comparisons: he’s in the top 10% of Ligue 1 players for line-breaking passes, top 8% for successful dribbles, and top 7% for assists. Defensively, he ranks in the top 14% for contributions and top 7% for interceptions, showing he’s strong one-on-one as well.
This kind of comparison gives United fans hope that Nagida could be the answer to their left-back issues—if they can sign him. But he’s not the only player on their list. TEAMtalk also says Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde is still being watched after the Spanish club decided to keep him in the summer. RB Leipzig’s David Raum has caught scouts’ eyes as well.
Other names include Joaquin Seys from Club Brugge and Adrien Truffert from Bournemouth, who’ve also attracted interest. Racing Santander’s 19-year-old Jorge Salinas has been noticed too, though he’s likely a long-term prospect.
United want to bring in someone who can help right now and grow for the future. The number of players they’re considering shows how seriously Wilcox and Vivell are taking this search.