Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is open to signing a brand new left-back earlier than the switch window closes subsequent week, and negotiations are persevering with with Porto over a doable switch for Alex Telles.
Manchester United have been monitoring Telles this summer season and will land him for a lot lower than his £36million launch clause as a result of his contract expires in 2021.
Telles has been a daily for Sergio Conceicao’s facet following his arrival from Galatasaray in 2016, with 193 appearances in all competitions for the Primeira Liga giants.
He would deliver years of top-flight expertise to United’s defence and is each a strong defensive operator and an attacking risk down the flank.
We’ve taken a take a look at how United may line up if Telles joins.
The swimming pools.com is the nation’s oldest and longest established betting outlet.
But when you have not bought an account but, thepools.com is providing new prospects a Free £5 wager!
You’ll be able to wager on any match, any market. Merely go browsing to thepools.com and register for a brand new account – you needn’t deposit a penny.
18+, UK solely. New prospects solely. Full T&Cs apply. Go to thepools.com for information. begambleaware.org
Left-back in a four-man defence
Beginning XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Bailly, Maguire, Telles; Matic, Pogba, Fernandes; Greenwood, Rashford, Martial
Telles has performed the majority of his profession as a standard left-back in a four-man defence behind a slim midfield three.
This enables him to get ahead into the house left by the absence of a pure huge midfielder. At Porto he usually hyperlinks up with the left-sided attacker, primarily Luis Diaz in 2019/20.
That capacity to drive ahead and get into the opposition half helped Telles rating 11 league objectives from left-back final time period.
He outscored all however one participant for Conceicao’s facet in 2019/20, though that was partly as a result of he took free-kicks and penalties.
His trademark inside Porto’s high-pressing system final season was linking up with Diaz across the fringe of the field to create and rating objectives.
At United, the tempo of Marcus Rashford forward of him may make for a lethal partnership.
Left wing-back in a 5-3-2 system
Beginning XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Bailly, Maguire, Shaw, Telles; Matic, Pogba; Fernandes; Rashford, Martial
Shifting to a wing-back position could be a positional change for Telles, but it surely could possibly be an possibility for Solskjaer to make sure higher defensive solidity.
Solskjaer switched between methods final season, with Shaw tucking right into a again three and Brandon Williams transferring right into a left wing-back slot from time to time.
Given Telles’ urge for food to get ahead this technique may assist United to get the perfect out of him.
Whereas the Brazilian’s defensive numbers at Porto are sturdy, his best belongings are his athleticism to interrupt ahead and his calmness within the remaining third.
The extra house created by Rashford transferring inside to associate Anthony Martial in a entrance two would permit Telles free rein to assault the opposition right-back.
This form would additionally give him an angle to ship crosses into the field, together with his assists for Marega proving to be Porto’s most worthwhile purpose supply in 2019/20.
