Forget Branthwaite: Man Utd should now sign 20yo Spanish star valued at £21m, 92% passing accuracy - opinion

Manchester United should consider an approach for Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera during the summer transfer window.

The Red Devils are likely to invest in a new centre-back with the possibility of multiple exits.

Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans are poised to leave at the expiry of their contracts on June 30.

Lisandro Martinez may not return until late 2025 due to knee surgery, which leaves a potential void to fill ahead of the 2025/26 season.

18-year-old Ayden Heaven has impressed with his minimal minutes, but manager Ruben Amorim may want a slightly experienced solution.

In our view, the club should swoop for the services of Mosquera, who could be signed for £21 million with his Valencia contract expiring in June 2026.

The 20-year-old has already accumulated 88 appearances at the senior level for Los Che, with 39 of those coming during the ongoing season.

The Spaniard is a strong ball-playing centre-back. He has a passing accuracy of 92 percent in La Liga this term and has won almost 60 percent of his duels.

Mosquera has also made 5.1 recoveries and 3.5 clearances per game alongside 1.4 tackles.

The youngster has been guilty of conceding three penalties, but his overall attributes suggest that he could be a leading centre-back in the long run.

Meanwhile, United are still interested in signing Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite. However, a deal could be difficult to pursue as the Toffees could hold out for a huge sum.

The Merseyside outfit were eyeing £70m to sell him last summer. His stock has certainly risen, and the valuation could be much higher this time around.

The left-footed ace would be a good addition to the squad, but the Red Devils may not make a renewed approach if the Toffees are reluctant to negotiate.

Keeping this in mind, the club could pursue an alternative. Mosquera would be a perfect addition to the ranks with his good presence and better technical qualities.

The Spaniard has impressed as a left-sided centre-back for Valencia and would provide good competition for places in the back three for the Red Devils.

United must be proactive to secure his signature ahead of the chasing pack, which includes Aston Villa, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan and Roma.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com & Sofascore.com

Article written by Sri Aswin .