Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers should expect contact from Manchester United in the summer transfer window with the Red Devils reportedly lining up swoops for Ezri Konsa and Maximilian Kilman.
Advanced in a search for defenders to bolster Erik ten Hag’s backline, Man Utd are said to have turned their attention to Villa’s Konsa and Wolves’ Kilman. The centre-backs have impressed this season with their respective teams exceeding expectations; the Villans on the charge for UEFA Champions League football and Wanderers a dark horse for Europe.
Rio Ferdinand says Phil Foden is putting one Manchester City star under pressure to perform
At the Etihad Stadium, one of those players is certainly Bernardo Silva, as he is often tasked to pick up positions as an advanced midfielder when City are in possession.
Against Aston Villa, the Portuguese international was deployed as a left-sided attacking midfielder, as he swapped positions with Jack Grealish throughout the contest.
Bernardo was typically bright against the Villains but he was far from his magisterial best.
When Foden has played in that position this campaign, however, more often than not, he has proven that such a role suits his game to a tee, like in the 3-2 win against RB Leipzig or the 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace this season.
Especially when the treble-winner is allowed to have the freedom to pick up different zones in midfield to do what he does best, he can be devastating.
But Rio Ferdinand feels a player who must have felt the pressure to showcase his quality against Crystal Palace was Kevin De Bruyne due to Phil Foden setting the world alight against Aston Villa.
“Listen, he’s just a wonderful talent and I think we’re just lucky to have him in the Premier League at this stage where we’re just sitting here and be able to unpick his game”, he initially said about the £54 million man on TNT Sports.
Football Transfers reports Man Utd have been monitoring Konsa since last summer and are considering advancing their interest. Fellow English outlet talkSPORT, meanwhile, claims United have added Wolves skipper Kilman to their shortlist of defenders, with a summer swoop being seriously considered.
Konsa, an England debutant over the recent international break, has played 39 times for Villa across all competitions this campaign. The 26-year-old’s versatility has been absolutely vital with Unai Emery able to call upon him at both right-back and centre-half, especially when Matty Cash has been unavailable.
The former Brentford ace, signed in 2019 for £12 million, has 156 Premier League appearances to his name, as well as six goals. He also has Sky Bet Championship and League One pedigree having played a combined 113 matches across the two competitions.
Kilman, also 26, has played 119 times in the Premier League after being fast-tracked from the National League in August 2018. Then signed for free from Maidenhead United, the English-Ukrainian defender worked his way up through the Old Gold youth ranks before becoming a key player – and now captain.
Man Utd, if set on Konsa and Kilman, will have to pay a pretty penny. Both have contracts until June 2028 and with 90% and 100% of minutes played in the Premier League respectively this term, they’re effectively indispensable to their current employers.
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