Crystal Palace have spoken to Manchester United about re-signing Old Trafford misfit Aaron Wan-Bissaka but Premier League rivals Wolves are now in pole position, according to 90Min.
In Friday morning, the BBC reported that Julen Lopetegui, Wolves’ new head coach, is hoping for no fewer than six January additions as he looks to peel the Black Country outfit off the bottom of the table.
Assuming two of those are Atletico Madrid duo Matheus Cunha and Felipe – negotiations with both players are underway and ongoing – that leaves four. Lopetegui himself admitted to being a fan of Sevilla’s Argentina left-back Marcos Acuna. But an ill-timed injury looks to have scuppered that deal.
Sevilla have now opted against letting Acuna go in January. It’s unlikely Man United will perform a similarly whiplash-inducing U-turn on Wan-Bissaka’s future however.
Wolves could now beat Crystal Palace Aaron Wan-Bissaka of Manchester United
The £50 million England international is not part of Erik Ten Hag’s plans. Wan-Bissaka has played just four minutes of football since the Dutchman’s appointment.
According to 90Min, West Ham and even Leeds have shown an interest. Crystal Palace, meanwhile, have held talks with United regarding a potential Selhurst Park return for a man who rose through the ranks in South London, establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s most exciting youngsters before Ole Gunnar Solskjaer splashed out an eye-watering £50 million fee in the summer of 2019.
90Min, however, believe that Wolves are now ‘leading the chase’. Lopetegui wants a right-back. Nelson Semedo’s penchant for defensive errors remain a concern. And, for all Wan-Bissaka’s faults, the 25-year-old is a more-than-useful one-v-one defender; a superb tackler who uses his telescopic legs to excellent effect at times.
“(Raheem) Sterling is one of the best three or four wide players in the world but Wan-Bissaka’s saying; ‘Come on, you’re not going to get past me’,” Premier League legend Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports back in 2020; Wan-Bissaka neutralising Pep Guardiola’s number seven during a 2-0 derby win for United.
“I actually think Wan-Bissaka is the best one-on-one defender for a full-back in the world. I don’t think anyone would get the better of him.”
Regular first-team football at Molineux, away from the relentless pressure and intensity of Old Trafford, may be exactly what Wan-Bissaka needs to get back to those pre-pandemic levels.
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