Manchester United hold contract talks for £61m ‘explosive’ star

There were a number of important departures at Manchester United this summer, but one of the most notable was Marcus Rashford.

He moved to Barcelona on loan at the end of the summer with an option to buy, essentially calling time on his impressive career at Old Trafford.

The Wythenshawe-born superstar has made 426 appearances for his boyhood club since his breakthrough as a teenager, scoring 138 goals and providing 79 assists.

He was sensational for a decade, leading United to two Carabao Cups, a Europa League and two FA Cups.

Now, with Rashford effectively leaving the club, United are looking to sign a new left winger.

Manchester United target new teenage winger

Rashford was not the only left-winger to leave Old Trafford in the summer. Fellow academy graduate Alejandro Garnacho also left for Chelsea, leaving the Red Devils depleted in that area of ​​the pitch.

So it may come as no surprise to learn that United are in the market for a new left-sided attacker.

The Daily Mail reports that Ruben Amorim’s side are “currently inquiring” about terms to sign RB Leipzig star Yann Diomande in the coming weeks.

However, this will not be easy. The Ivory Coast international is in high demand, with Bundesliga side Bayern Munich and Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur also approaching him about a deal.

In terms of transfer fees, United’s owners INEOS and other interested parties could be looking at more than £61m to sign the winger.

What Diomande brings to United

Signing Diomande would definitely be a big statement for the Red Devils. He is probably one of the most highly rated young attackers on the planet and has already become a key player for Leipzig in his first season at the club.

So far, the 19-year-old, who is a full-time international for Ivory Coast, has made 16 appearances for the Bundesliga team this season.

In that time, he has scored seven goals and provided four assists, averaging a goal involvement every 94 minutes, which is certainly a great return.

One of the most impressive things about Diomand is how deadly a dribbler he is.

Described as an “explosive” winger by football scout Antonio Mango, he thrives in one-on-one situations, isolating defenders before attacking them with his power and quick feet.

It’s interesting to consider the similarities between Diomando now and Rashford as a teenager. Interestingly, 1999 treble winner and academy graduate Nicky Butt said the current Barça winger was an “explosive” player even in his younger days.

Like the Ivorian, he played fearlessly and was serious about picking on defenders with his front foot.

In fact, the former United number 10 played more first-team football as a teenager than Diomande. By his 20th birthday, Rashford had played 87 games and scored 26 goals.

Such an attack against West Ham United highlights the explosive nature Butt mentioned.

It’s easy to see the similarities between teenage Rashford and Leipzig’s own young talent, but the statistics emphasize it even more.

For example, in the 2016/17 season, which the Englishman started as a teenager, he averaged 4.08 progressive carries and created 1.09 chances per 90 minutes. In comparison, Diomande averages 6.26 progressive carries and 1.41 key passes per game.

Rashford was a dynamic attacking option when he first broke out at Old Trafford and continued to develop over the years into his 20s.

Now that he’s gone, there really isn’t anyone at the club with that profile, whether it’s an established player or a player on the break.

Well, signing Diomand might solve that problem. He certainly has similar qualities to Rashford, with his previously recognized explosive nature and threat in the final third.

£61m is fair value for such a talent in the current market and he could add another dimension to Amorim’s squad.