‘One of the best’: United eye late-window raid for 25y/o defensive freak with unreal Ligue 1 numbers- report

Manchester United have identified Nice midfielder Hicham Boudaoui as a potential addition to their squad, with a club scout attending Algeria’s recent friendly against Sweden to monitor him.

Boudaoui, who featured for just over an hour in the match at the Friends Arena in Solna, is understood to have impressed United representatives with his composure in possession, range of passing, and physical output.

These are qualities that align closely with the profile of player new manager Ruben Amorim is seeking this summer.

While the match ended in a 4-0 defeat for Algeria, Boudaoui’s individual performance is believed to have stood out.

He reportedly won all of his ground duels, completed several progressive passes, including a notable diagonal switch and came close to scoring with a low-driven effort that narrowly missed the far post.

United are exploring cost-effective options to strengthen their midfield following the £62.5 million signing of Matheus Cunha, and Boudaoui has emerged as one of the names under serious consideration.

The player is coming off a strong campaign in Ligue 1 and was ranked highly across several key physical metrics  including first for sprinting speed and sixth for high-intensity distance covered among defensive midfielders.

Relying on Casemiro to start week in, week out—especially in a role as physically demanding as holding midfield would represent a significant gamble for a side aiming to compete on multiple fronts.

With no natural successor currently embedded in the squad, failing to recruit a younger, more dynamic option this summer could leave United dangerously exposed at the base of midfield, especially if injuries or fatigue strike at a crucial stage of the season.

Due to UEFA regulations surrounding multi-club ownership, Man United and Nice, both under the Ineos umbrella, are restricted from conducting business until after the final day of the transfer window, currently set for 7pm BST on the first of September.

Boudaoui has two years remaining on his contract and is attracting interest from other clubs in the Premier League, as well as sides in Spain and Germany.

While a valuation of around £20 million is being discussed internally at Nice, it remains to be seen whether United will be in a position to act, given current financial constraints and the need to offload players before further investment.

As it stands, Boudaoui remains on United’s watchlist, with any significant movement likely to occur late in the window, should Amorim and the club decide to pursue the deal once restrictions are lifted.

Featured image: Alex Davidson via Getty Images

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