Antonio Valencia is being tipped to be Manchester United’s player of the season this year.
The Ecuadorian has been a consistent performer at right back during Jose Mourinho’s first season at the club, all the more impressive given that he has been considered a winger for most of his career.
Now 31, it’s hardly a surprise to learn that United are looking at potential replacements for Valencia. Reports from France go as far as claiming that Mourinho has reached a verbal agreement with Paris Saint-Germain right back, Serge Aurier.
L’Equipe (via Metro) claim that the 24-year-old has spoken to Mourinho about a move to Old Trafford, agreeing to a move at the end of the season.
The report also claims that Aurier, who is an international teammate of United defender Eric Bailly with the Ivory Coast, would be the club’s first choice right-back on arrival.
Aurier currently has a deal in place with PSG until 2019, and it’s unlikely that the French champions will be keen to let a player of his calibre leave the club. However, as pointed out by French football writer, Matt Spiro, PSG chiefs are open to the idea of him leaving. Not only that, he suggests he could be available for reasonable €20 million (around £17m).
Aurier's off-field antics & below par displays have seen him lose place to Thomas Meunier. Fine player but now seen as expendable by #PSG
— Matt Spiro (@mattspiro) April 19, 2017
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