If you hadn’t been paying attention, you might be wondering why Manchester United appear to be in the market for a new left-back this summer.
This, however, appears to be a pursuit borne out of necessity more than desire. Luke Shaw is not getting any younger, and could end the season with just 12 Premier league starts to his name. That is still 12 more than Tyrell Malacia, however, with Red Devils supporters expecting to wake up one morning and find the disappearing Dutchman’s face on the side of their milk carton.
Harry Amass, a key part of the superb Manchester United U18 side which claimed the league and cup double last week, is very highly-rated but still only 17.
Hence the links with Melvin Bard, a player known very well to Ineos following a couple of seasons at Nice in France.
He is the latest Allianz Riviera ace to be linked with a move to Old Trafford after Khephren Thuram and Jean-Clair Todibo, The Standard reported in March that United had begun contact with the talented 23-year-old.
Manchester United like Nice ace Melvin Bard
Jason Wilcox, the club’s new technical director proved himself at Southampton as a man with an eye for potential and value. Melvin Bard, experienced enough but still yet to hit his peak at 24, appears to be the sort of hungry, up-and-coming, ever-improving player Ineos will build their attempted transformation of Man United around, alongside the likes of Jarrad Branthwaite and Michael Olise.
At a reported £13 million, meanwhile, Bard’s arrival would also leave plenty of money left in the budget to reinforce at centre-forward, at centre-half, in the midfield and wide on the right.
According to Tuttomercatoweb, there is interest from the 2023 Serie A champions Napoli too. In order to make room for Bard, however, the Partenopei would have to move on a Mathias Oliveira or a Mario Rui, and the latter clearly has no intention of walking away just yet.
Red Devils face Napoli battle
“Of my players, no one has ever thought of leaving Naples,” says Mario Giuffredi, who represents Rui and a number of other Napoli players.
“If tomorrow we no longer suit the coach, we will take (our options) into consideration. But I can guarantee you that this is not the case with my players, who will all remain in Naples next year. Because then, leaving Naples next year would also be a bit cowardly.”
Bard’s versatility is likely to be another reason why he has admirers at Man United. The one-time Lyon youngster can also play at centre-half and further forward on the wing.
It will not have gone unnoticed at Old Trafford, meanwhile, that Bard grew up a Man United fan, just like another summer target in Crystal Palace’s Olise.
“I liked Nani in Manchester,” Bard tells Nice-Matin, opening up on his admiration for the former Portugal prancer. “My dad used to watch United and he called me Wayne Rooney, who I also loved.”