Manchester United enter race to sign centre-back Jhon Lucumí | OneFootball

Manchester United are in the race to sign Bologna and Colombia defender Jhon Lucumí.

This season has been a challenging one defensively for United, with the club conceding 48 goals in just 32 Premier League matches. As a result, Erik ten Hag’s side sit on a -1 goal difference.

While Ten Hag has taken a barrage of criticism for his management style, particularly after the Coventry win in the FA Cup, injuries have also made it difficult for the Dutch manager to field a consistent backline throughout the season. In fact, it was this exact issue which forced him to select Casemiro as Harry Maguire’s centre-back partner during Sunday’s narrow win.

With Lisandro Martinez sidelined and Raphael Varane unable to stay fit with countless injury setbacks throughout the season, a centre-back has become a priority signing this summer to strengthen United’s porous defence.

Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite has been linked with United, however, his reported price tag – ranging from £70 million to as high as £100 million – is incredibly exorbitant if credible. OGC Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo is another name that United are linked with, as is Juventus’ Gleison Bremer.

Still, United may just opt for another up-and-coming talent should they decide to save some money and perhaps mould a lesser-known candidate into the player they want. One such option that has recently emerged is Jhon Lucumí.

Claro Sports reported yesterday that United, Juventus, and Atletico Madrid may enter a heated race to sign the Bologna defender.

Although it is Atletico who have allegedly expressed an explicit interest in the player and a willingness to submit an initial bid of €13 million, including bonuses, Sport Witness explained that it is not outside of the realm of possibility that United could enter the fray and complicate proceedings for Diego Simeone’s side.

Starting in 18 of his 24 Serie A outings, the Colombian has kept eight clean sheets for Bologna, making 1.8 tackles per game. He has exhibited immense quality with the ball, completing 93% of his attempted passes and winning 67% of his total duels, and specifically, 74% of his ground duels.

Lucumí has also shown quality on the attack, attaining 71% successful dribbles and completing 72% of his long balls, showing his ability to supply his attacking teammates (stats via Sofascore).

The 25 year old has been a pivotal member of Bologna’s squad in what has been a sensational season for the Italians. Currently, Bologna sit in fourth place in the Serie A standings, putting them in a position to qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season.

Should the club hold onto fourth place in the five league matches that remain, it would mean that Lucumí would play a crucial role in lifting his team to the first Champions League qualification in their history – a fitting legacy to depart the club on come the summer.

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