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Manchester United defensive woes have been there for all to see this season, evidenced by Andre Onana facing the most shots in the Premier League.
Injuries have greatly hampered any form of progression or consistency in that backline, with all the senior defenders going down with injuries at some point except Dalot.
The situation has been even more dire at left back, with both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia all being unavailable all season. The former has been restricted to a handful of appearances, and the latter hasn’t featured all season.
As such, a left back is something that needs to be added to the summer shopping list and according to reports, United are already in talks with fellow INEOS owned club Nice for left back Melvin Bard.
Bard, 23, joined Nice from Lyon in 2021 and his performances this season have put him in with a chance of making France’s European Championships squad.
While predominantly a left-back, Bard can also play at left midfield and has two assists in 23 appearances this term.
Bard only has two years left in his contract, and it is reported that United could be willing to cash in on him.
It was reported in January that United were after a right back on account of Wan-Bissaka’s fitness issues, but that then has completely changed with the sheer depletion at left back.
It got so bad that even midfielder Sofyan Amrabat had to sometimes be deployed at left back.
Bard fits a similar mould to Malacia; a fairly diminutive left back with some potential for the future.
Players and managers who have interacted with Bard before offer nothing but sparkling reviews for the left back, all citing the immense potential waiting to be unlocked.
INEOS know all about Bard from their project at Nice and may well believe that he can make the step-up at United.
