In the event that Zinedine Zidane succeeds Erik ten Hag as the captain of Manchester United, it has been rumored that he has a specific player in mind to bring in as his first Manchester United signing.
With only eight points from their first seven games, United is currently in 14th place in the Premier League standings, which is putting pressure on the Dutchman’s job. This is United’s worst start to a Premier League season ever that they have ever had.
And despite the fact that Ten Hag is still anticipated to remain in charge of the Red Devils when they return to play against Brentford following the international break, a schedule has developed around the periods of time during which he may be removed from his position.
As far as potential successors to him are concerned, Thomas Tuchel continues to be the most prominent candidate for the position. However, it has been stated that Zidane, who once served as the manager of Real Madrid, is also ‘open’ to the possibility of returning to management in a different environment.
Additionally, Zidane is reportedly interested in bringing Jules Kounde, a fellow countryman, to Old Trafford as his first signing during the January transfer window. This information comes from a story that was published by El Nacional, a Spanish news site. It has been asserted that Zidane is of the opinion that it “would be fundamental to strengthen a defense that has shown serious weaknesses in recent months.”
According to the source, Zidane has a very high opinion of Kounde and feels that he would provide United with an immediate boost in their back four. This could be anywhere from the position of center back to the position of right back, which is a position that Kounde has played a lot at Camp Nou.
After the summer transfer of Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich, the position of right back is not necessarily a position of need at this time. Diogo Dalot is also still at the club, but he is required to fill in as a substitute on the left wing.
Despite the fact that Matthijs de Ligt and Mazraoui have both made the transition from the Bundesliga, the defense in the central position has continued to be a problem. It has been difficult for the Dutchman to have a strong influence at Old Trafford, and he was not included in the team’s most recent league match, which was played against Aston Villa.
Man United still has a long way to go before recruiting Kounde.
It seems that United will have a very difficult time luring Kounde away from Catalonia in the near future, despite the fact that Zidane has expressed his desire for this to happen.
As an additional point of interest, the source states that Barcelona is “not willing” to let go of one of their most crucial defensive players and that they consider him to be “untransferable.”
While this is going on, Kounde himself is totally committed to the new Hansi Flick project at the LaLiga giants, and he has no intention of looking for a transfer elsewhere at this point in time.
The versatile player, who is 25 years old and joined Barcelona from Sevilla in the summer of 2022, has made 98 appearances for the Catalan club, scoring four goals. His adaptability has proven to be a significant asset for the Camp Nou team.
In point of fact, Kounde has been shaped into a full-back in Catalonia, and all eleven of his appearances this season have been in that position. This is despite the fact that he previously played the majority of his games in Seville in the position of center back.
What are your thoughts on how Zinedine Zidane would do in the role of manager at Manchester United? Share your thoughts with us in the comments box below…
Branthwaite will continue to be pursued by Manchester United, and Antony will be leaving the club.
TEAMtalk is able to tell that Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a part-owner of United, is still willing to buy Jarrad Branthwaite from Everton, despite the fact that he was unsuccessful in acquiring his services over the summer.
In the midst of the uncertainty that surrounds Erik ten Hag’s predicament, the board is working in the background arranging for future transfers. Branthwaite is one name that has always been on their want list, and Ratcliffe is keen to get his man over there.
With Everton’s position being crystal obvious, sources have revealed to TEAMtalk that Ratcliffe and Manchester United are fully in the mix to sign the England center-back next year. This comes after Everton had already missed out on the opportunity to get him.
In the meanwhile, Manchester United has ‘decided’ to sell Antony during the forthcoming January transfer window. Newcastle and Crystal Palace are among the three clubs who have already been connected to the Brazilian player. TEAMtalk has also learnt what Old Trafford insiders actually think of the Brazilian player.
