Five Manchester United and PSV players Ruud van Nistelrooy could sign for Leicester City
In changing their manager in November, Leicester City have ensured new boss Ruud van Nistelrooy gets the opportunity to shape his squad in the January transfer window.
While City have a recruitment department, led by Martyn Glover, that will have already started considering targets, van Nistelrooy may have his own thoughts on signings. And he may turn to players he has worked with already and so can trust to make an impact.
That means picking up the phone and calling his former colleagues at Manchester United and PSV Eindhoven. Here, we run down five players he could look to team up with again at the King Power Stadium...
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Harry Amass
The 17-year-old left-back is yet to make his Manchester United debut but he’s been around the first-team squad for some time and was a star of their pre-season campaign, praised for his tough-tackling and support down the left channel. Van Nistelrooy included him on his bench for all four of his interim matches in charge.
Now Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw are back fit, it will be difficult for Amass to get a chance. Steve Cooper was looking at a new left-back and it may be an area Van Nistelrooy feels need working on too.
But is a 17-year-old the answer? In any case, a loan is more likely, and that would mean City having to cancel Odsonne Edouard’s season-long switch from Crystal Palace due to Premier League rules.
Amad Diallo
This is unlikely, but perhaps not as unlikely as it initially seems. Amad is a fully-fledged first-team star at United and has played in all but two of their fixtures this season.
However, Ruben Amorim’s system has no wingers, but wing-backs instead, and that’s where Amad has played in each of the new manager’s first couple of matches. But given the defensive duties that come with that role, it may be that Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui, Malacia and Shaw may be better suited.
In that case, Amad could be available for a speculative loan, especially with the Ivorian still only 22 and at an age where he needs game-time to develop. With Abdul Fatawu out for the season, Amad could be the perfect short-term replacement.
Armando Obispo
A left-footed centre-back, something City don’t currently have in their squad, Obispo was a regular under Van Nistelrooy until a knee injury ruled him out of the end of the campaign. He’s struggled to make himself a starter in the 12 or so months since he recovered.
So maybe a fresh start is required and maybe City can offer him that. He looks like a good passer of the ball and reads play well.
Mauro Junior
The left-back didn’t play often during Van Nistelrooy’s season in charge at PSV because of a couple of injuries, but he’s since built himself into a key player for the club and has featured in all of their Champions League fixtures. He’s played in a variety of roles too, with Junior also able to feature at right-back and in defensive midfield.
That versatility, and his ability as an all-around good footballer could mean there is interest in the 25-year-old Brazilian. Plus, he’s out of contract next summer, and so that makes a January move potentially pretty cheap.
Johan Bakayoko
He’s one of PSV’s big names and it will be difficult, and expensive, for a club like City to get him. But what may help is that the Belgian winger is Van Nistelrooy’s man.
The manager brought him through the ranks in PSV’s youth teams and was the first boss to make him a regular at senior level. A supreme ball-carrier, the 21-year-old is starting to contribute more consistently inside the box too, and he has five goals and three assists in 18 games this season.