Why Manchester United should go for Lukas Klostermann in the summer?
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has had a fine start to life as Manchester United interim manager. The Norwegian has won 12 of the 15 games he has been in charge of in all competitions. His only defeat to date came against Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie earlier this month.
Solskjaer has made a point of getting the Reds to play the fast-paced attacking, expansive game for which they were renowned during much of Sir Alex Ferguson’s 26-and-a-half years in charge at Old Trafford. And despite now realistically challenging for the top four, United will have to spend big in the summer to challenge for the title in the 2019/20 campaign.
The Red Devils managed to sign just three players last summer—Fred, Diogo Dalot and Lee Grant—and the lack of investment has resulted in the club’s poor 2018/19 Premier League campaign. While investing on a new central defender is must, Solskjaer, who is very likely to become United’s permanent manager, should also keep a look at his full-back options.
In Luke Shaw, Antonio Valencia, Matteo Darmian, Ashley Young and Diogo Dalot, the Red Devils have a host of options as far as the full-back department is concerned. But if we dig deep, Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young are at the wrong side of 30, although United have the extended the latter’s contract until the summer of 2020.
Meanwhile, Matteo Darmian is a peripheral figure at Old Trafford and is likely to leave the club in the summer. The Italy international has made just five league appearances this season and should the right offer arrive in the summer, United should offload him. With Valencia having entered the final few months of his contract and Darmian very likely to leave at the end of the season, Solskjaer would be wise to make a summer swoop for RB Leipzig star Lukas Klostermann.
Lukas Klostermann has been deemed as one of the promising full-backs in Germany, helping Leipzig achieve promotion to the Bundesliga a couple of years ago. The German is a high-flying right-back, known for his pace, energy, and strength and attacking prowess. He is also solid when it comes to defending, plus his versatility to fill in as a left back and centre-back should also be a big asset for Solskjaer.
Standing at 6ft 2in, Klostermann is very difficult to dispossess and knows how to hold onto the ball in tightest of areas. The former Germany U21 international is adept at providing crisp deliveries from out wide and would bring in more quality in the defensive facet of the team.
The 22-year-old is contracted at RB Leipzig until 2021, so it’s clear he isn’t going to come in cheap. However, United should go all out to land the German defender this summer to solve their defensive woes ahead of the new campaign.
