Manchester United are “expected” to complete a deal for Udinese centre-back Oumar Solet as the club draws close to agreeing its second summer signing after Matheus Cunha, according to a report.
The Red Devils confirmed Cunha’s £62.5 million move from Wolverhampton Wanderers had been finalised over the weekend with the Brazilian international set to take the number ten shirt at Old Trafford.
But Cunha looks set to be joined by another signing with The Sun revealing United are interested in signing Solet with movements being made to complete a deal.
The report states “a move for Oumar Solet is expected to gain traction, with the French defender now expected to follow Matheus Cunha to the club.”
United were linked with the 25-year-old defender in March after his impressive performances in Serie A this season.
As relayed by The Peoples Person, Old Trafford officials are said to have “held talks” with their Italian counterparts over a deal for Solet whose contract with Udinese expires in 2027.
The attraction of Solet is obvious to Ruben Amorim with the Frenchman perfectly suited to the outside centre-back role in the Portuguese coach’s 3-4-2-1 system.
Amongst all central defenders across Europe’s ‘Big Five’ leagues, Solet ranks in the 85th percentile for progressive carries and 99th for successful take-ons. He also clocks in at the 96th percentile for assists and 98th for shot-creating actions.
The Udinese centre-back is, evidently, as potent a threat going forward as he is a defensive rock. And this is crucial to Amorim’s approach with his outside centre-backs expected to join the attack to help create overloads down the opposition channels.
From the existing cohort of centre-halves at Old Trafford, only Lisandro Martinez, Leny Yoro and Noussair Mazraoui are capable of providing this type of attacking impetus from deep.
But Martinez is undergoing rehabilitation for a serious cruciate ligament injury which could rule him out for much of 2025. It is the second major injury the Argentinian international has sustained in successive seasons.
Furthermore, Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof will leave the club this month as their contracts are set to expire and will not be renewed.
This creates a scenario where a cheaper centre-back with outstanding technical skills could quickly become an important target at Old Trafford, despite the club’s intention to direct the bulk of its summer budget towards Amorim’s misfiring forward line.
And it’s this need which is likely driving United’s intent to seal a deal for Solet with The Sun revealing the Udinese star is “tipped to make the switch to Old Trafford.”
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
