Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 8:42 PM• Mart Oude Nijeweeme • Last update: 20:49

Manchester United have their sights on Borna Sosa, reports kicker† The 24-year-old left wing defender of VfB Stuttgart should be Erik ten Hag’s first purchase. United’s interest should sharpen Chelsea, there the Blues have been chasing Sosa for a long time. The Croat must still be brought to Old Trafford for an amount of thirty million euros, it sounds like.

Chelsea see Sosa as the ideal backup for Ben Chilwell, but have now faced unexpected competition in the battle for the left-back’s signature. kicker knows that Ten Hag would like to beat Chelsea by adding Sosa to his selection this summer. The left-footed Croat made 27 appearances in the Bundesliga this season and contributed directly to 9 goals. Sosa must compete at United with Luke Shaw and Alex Telles and offer Ten Hag more options.

Sosa is said to be available for around 30 million euros from Stuttgart. The defender has a contract until mid-2025, after extending his contract for the last time in 2020. Stuttgart is not immediately eager for a departure from Sosa, but is aware that if United come up with a good offer, they will find it difficult to stop a transfer. Shaw was United’s left wing first-choice this season, but he made just 19 appearances, partly due to injuries. In addition, his contract expires next year.

The defensive problems are one of the main reasons for the appalling slump United are currently experiencing. The superpower has conceded no fewer than 56 goals in 37 Premier League matches this season. Last weekend, Brighton and Hove Albion lost 4-0. Ten Hag is expected to give priority to strengthening the last line by attracting some newcomers. According to the above-mentioned newspaper, the current Ajax coach has designated Sosa as the most important candidate to provide the rearguard with a quality boost.

Shaw played a key role in the run-up to the Europa League final last season, helping the club to second place in the Premier League, but has fallen out of favor due to a slump of form and injury. Telles has kicked off in ten of the last eleven competition matches. However, United are not happy with the defensive qualities of the Brazilian yet, so Sosa has emerged as a potential replacement. The latter has scored once this season and provided eight assists. He played five times for the Croatian national team.