Manchester United are now “quite keen” on signing Lyon defender Malo Gusto at Old Trafford, Dean Jones has told GIVEMESPORT.
Erik ten Hag’s side look open to selling Aaron Wan-Bissaka in this January transfer window according to Fabrizio Romano, and right-back cover for Diogo Dalot appears to be on the agenda.
Man Utd Transfer News – Malo Gusto
According to Sky journalist Florian Plettenberg back in mid-December, the 19-year-old is highly-rated by transfer chiefs at United, and that he has an estimated price tag of around £34m.
More recently, The Daily Mail have claimed that fellow Premier League side Newcastle United have joined the race to sign the teenage Frenchman, with the Magpies seeing him as a potential long-term replacement for Kieran Trippier.
What did Dean Jones say about Man Utd’s move for Malo Gusto?
Now, Jones has indicated that Gusto is generating considerable interest from the Premier League, and that Ten Hag’s side are among those clubs who are looking at him.
He said: “Yeah, Malo Gusto in particular is attracting a lot of interest in England. Man Utd are quite keen on him as well. These are players who get circulated at the same time, as agents start doing their work, and they’re always ones you have to bear in mind.”
Ten Hag would love Malo Gusto at Man Utd
The 19-year-old has been a consistent starter for Lyon this season, playing in 14 games as per Transfermarkt, while he has showcased his attacking talents with a reasonable five assists in 46 Ligue 1 games.
Despite a 2-1 defeat against a star-studded PSG back in September 2021, Gusto came out with a lot of credit, registering a team-high five tackles, and providing the joint-most key passes with two, as per Sofascore.
Indeed, such was his impressive performance against the Parisien giants, former France star Jerome Rothen declared that Gusto was so good that he “ate Mbappe”.
Given how effectively he stopped one of the world’s best, and also the threat he has offered going forwards this season too, Gusto appears to be the perfect fit for Ten Hag’s vision for Man Utd at Old Trafford.
Erik Ten Hag justifies dropping Marcus Rashford
Maybe it is a risk but if you want to develop something to create a winning attitude and culture you have to go this way, says Manchester United manager
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said it was a risk to relegate Marcus Rashford to the bench for disciplinary reasons but maintained it was necessary to create a winning culture at the club.
Rashford, who later said he had overslept and was late for a team meeting, started as a substitute against Wolverhampton Wanderers on New Year’s Eve as punishment. He came on for the second half and scored the winner in a United 1-0 victory.
“Maybe it is a risk but if you want to develop something to create a winning attitude and culture you have to go this way,” Ten Hag said.
“If you allow (players) to be indisciplined, if they don’t match the standards, values, rules we set together — that is the staff, players, and in the dressing room – then it will come back and blow in your face because on the pitch it does not then add the discipline which is necessary to win games.”
Rashford, 25, has rediscovered his form under Ten Hag and scored 13 league goals in 24 appearances so far.
“If it is the right person and the right characters they will react like this,” Ten Hag added. “In relation to Marcus I was quite convinced, knowing him for seven or eight months, that I could expect this reaction he showed.”
United will host Charlton Athletic in the League Cup quarter finals on Tuesday before returning to Premier League action against rivals Manchester City in Saturday’s Derby.
The Cup win against Everton was United’s seventh consecutive victory but Ten Hag warned against complacency.
“You have to be watchful for this, we have to keep this focus and concentration,” he said.
Written with inputs from Reuters
Silva shines on birthday
Villarreal: David Silva produced a masterclass to help third-place Real Sociedad beat Almeria 2-0 on Sunday.
The playmaker, who turned 37 on Sunday, capitalised on defensive confusion in the box to nip in and fire home the opener just after half-time. Silva had played a brilliant pass to put Take Kubo in down the right to start the move.
Alexander Sorloth drilled home his sixth league goal of the season five minutes later to extend La Real’s lead at the Power Horse Stadium.
The Norwegian forward collected Mikel Merino’s ball and cut into the area before beating Fernando Martinez at his near post. Without the suspended Brais Mendez, Imanol Alguacil’s side were not at their best but still managed to inflict Almeria’s first home defeat since September.
Real Madrid suffered a 2-1 defeat at Villarreal on Saturday.
Source: givemesport.com; telegraphindia.com
