According to The Daily Star, Real Madrid are all but ready to sell Fabio Coentrao. United were in for him on the last day of the January transfer window, but failed to lock the loan deal up.
United would love to sign 18 year old left back Luke Shaw from Southampton, but United face stiff competition from all the big clubs in England. Coentrao, who is 26, could be signed for roughly 10 million pounds, far cheaper than Luke Shaw.
Real Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti are now willing to let Coentrao go, as he has found it difficult to make the starting eleven over Marcelo. Coentrao could be brought in as a replacement left back for Patrice Evra, who may leave on a free transfer this summer.
The Daily Star is a reasonable source, so I give the rumor strength here about a 6 out of 10. United are interested in solidifying their backline and Coentrao could be a decent signing for 10 million pounds.
If Coentrao came to Manchester United he could help the team. I am not a big fan of Coentrao’s defensive game, but he can be similar to what Evra has brought them. He loves to get forward in attack but like Evra, he can be caught out of position.
This would not be the ideal signing that United need at left back but it could be a decent signing, as he only would cost 10 million. Luke Shaw would be a far better option, but he is valued at three times the price. I give the possible Coentrao move to United a 5 out of 10, as far as helping the team, because he doesn’t bring the defensive skills that United desperately need.
It does look very likely that Coentrao will leave Real Madrid in the summer because right now he is a backup to Marcelo. United were in for Coentrao in January, but I feel they were desperate and it would have been a panic buy. I can see this transfer happening, but only if United fail to sign another left back, like Luke Shaw. I give this potential transfer a 10 percent, but that could certainly change as summer nears.
