Manchester United suffered a devastating 4-3 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, marking their 12th defeat of the season. This loss ties their record for the most losses in Premier League history.
The Red Devils have conceded three or more goals for the third time since March, making it the 13th occurrence this season.
Erik ten Hag’s defective system is ineffective, and his misguided post-match pronouncements are increasingly hard to trust.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his revamped team must make a significant choice on the future of the manager.
In addition to the insult, the defense is currently in a precarious condition, as only academy graduate Willy Kambwala and Harry Maguire are available as center-backs following injuries to Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans during the match against the Blues.
Issues regarding the central defensive position
Victor Lindelof and Lisandro Martinez have both been injured for a month. Based on this season’s results, it is probable that INEOS will remove several names from this list during their scheduled summer clearout.
Several center-backs have been associated with a potential move to Old Trafford in the upcoming summer, and Football Transfers has now included Ezri Konsa’s name in this list.
The Aston Villa player has excelled in both the positions of centre-back and right-back for Aston Villa, a team that is now on track to finish in fourth place and secure a spot in the Champions League for the upcoming season.
Given the uncertainty surrounding Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s future, his ability to play in multiple positions might be very useful for the 20-time English league champions.
The individual, who is 26 years old, has played a crucial and influential part in the team’s success by maintaining a clean sheet in 12 matches, as well as scoring a goal and providing an assist in a total of 39 games. Gareth Southgate granted the centre-back his first appearance for the England national team in a match against Brazil.
Konsa’s remarkable tenure at Villa
According to Fbref, his pass completion rate and successful take-ons % rank him in the top eight percent among centre-backs and in the top 1 percent among full-backs. This demonstrates his exceptional technical abilities when it comes to controlling the ball.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe seeks future recruits who have shown themselves in the Premier League, and he considers age profile as a qualifying factor. Former manager Dean Smith praised his performances for Villa, describing him as an exceptional player.
Nevertheless, the Englishman has recently agreed to a new deal that extends until 2028, which includes the potential for participation in the European Championships. As a result, it is anticipated that his value will significantly increase, potentially making him too expensive for Manchester United to acquire.
His present market valuation, as reported by Transfermarkt, is €35 million. However, it is anticipated that he would command a significantly higher price in the event of a sale.
FootballTransfers has informed us that Manchester United may pursue a transfer for Ezri Konsa, as they have been observing the Aston Villa defender since last summer.
FootballTransfers has learned that Manchester United became aware of Konsa’s dissatisfaction with his contract status at Villa Park last summer and included the English international on their list of potential transfers.
Ezri Konsa is the current focus of attention.
Nevertheless, Villa displayed hesitancy in selling and instead chose to significantly increase the 26-year-old’s salary to ensure his contentment. As a result, Konsa agreed to a new five-year contract in September.
“It is believed that United still have a positive opinion of Konsa, although they acknowledge that the player’s value would increase significantly after his contract renewal.”
In addition, considering the possibility of participating in the Champions League, Unai Emery will undoubtedly be reluctant to part ways with such a crucial player, and a prospective transfer during the summer might provide significant challenges.
It is common to pay a higher price for British players, and Manchester United has lately experienced this with the significant increase in the worth of Jarrad Branthwaite and Evan Ferguson.
The club’s ability to collect funds throughout the summer will greatly influence the amount available for the acquisition of a center-back. Additionally, the club’s intention to pursue a striker and midfielder further complicates the financial situation.
