Manchester United is on the search for a central midfielder to bolster their defensive strength this summer, but they're also looking for a successor for star player Paul Pogba.
Real Madrid, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain have all expressed interest in signing the 28-year-old Frenchman, who is entering the final year of his contract with the club. United are desperate to keep him and hope to persuade him to re-sign, but they are aware that if this is not possible, they will lose him for free in a year.
DON'T MISS:
As a result, they've been looking for prospective successors in the transfer market, and they've shown interest in Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar.
But who is Aouar, and why is he being considered as a possible replacement for Paul Pogba by Manchester United? MEN Sport has already done the legwork for you, so you don't have to.
Houssem Aouar, who is he?
Aouar, a 23-year-old midfielder, has been with Olympique Lyonnais since he was 11 years old, when he joined their academy. The midfielder, who is of Algerian origin and was born in Lyon, made his France debut in October 2020 after previously representing the country at the Under-17 and Under-21 levels.
He has previously mentioned Lyon veteran Juninho and French playmaker Zinedine Zidane as two of his playing idols.
DON'T MISS:
Last summer, he was extensively linked with moves to Arsenal and Juventus, but he chose to stay with Lyon in the goal of returning to the Champions League and earning more money during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Style of play
Aouar is a dynamic midfielder who is recognized for his attacking flair and neat technical abilities.
Aouar, who is normally deployed as a central midfielder in a three-man midfield, is the team's most offensive-minded player and takes the team's attacking responsibility on his shoulders.
Aouar is a gifted distributor and dribbler who is happy to collect the ball from distance. Last season, he had three assists and an 86 percent passing accuracy in Ligue 1, and his eight goals demonstrate that he is a capable finisher in front of goal.
He is positionally proficient and uses his body well to shield the ball from opponents, yet his defensive abilities are not his strongest.
What's the latest on Aouar?
Aouar has gotten a lot of acclaim so far in his career, including from Pep Guardiola following a match between Lyon and Manchester City in 2018.
Guardiola commented after the game: "Houssem Aouar is an outstanding player. He is just amazing.
"We talk about (Tanguy) Ndombele a lot, but Aouar is also fantastic. With the ball at his feet, he's always cool and has outstanding technical ability.
Lyon's midfielder was also praised by superstar playmaker Kevin De Bruyne during a game against Manchester City in 2020, which Lyon won 3-1.
"I don't watch much French football, but if I had to identify one player, I'd go with Houssem Aouar. He had a good game today."
Aouar also pleased Lionel Messi, who named him one of the top 15 promising players to watch in 2020. "With the ball at his feet, he is always cool and has outstanding technical quality," he remarked.
How much will Aouar set you back?
After being priced out of a move last summer by Lyon, who valued him at roughly €60 million (£51 million), he is now available for less than half that price after they failed to qualify for the Champions League this season.
Lyon are in desperate need of funds after losing Memphis Depay to Barcelona on a free transfer. The French giants have been hit hard financially by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the league's TV agreement collapsing, which has cost the league money.
With two years left on his contract, his value is only going to decrease, and United may see him as a cheap way to improve their midfield options.
No comments:
Post a Comment