UNITED PLANNING SWOOP FOR CHELSEA TARGET

Manchester United are looking to sign Juventus fullback Joao Cancelo in the summer according to reports from Italy. The Premier League outfit have endured a miserable campaign which ended with a home defeat to Cardiff City on Sunday.

According to the report Juventus are willing to sell and have informed the Red Devils that they would need to pay £51 million for his services.

It is understood that United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has identified the defence as a major priority going forward and Cancelo is at the top of the wish list.

Italian tabloid Calcio Mercato claims that Manchester United are the favourites to sign the Portuguese international ahead of Chelsea and PSG.

Cancelo is known as an attacking fullback with a knack of creating goal scoring chances in the final third.  He was exceptional this season particularly in the League where he created tons of chances for Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.

Manchester United are currently light in the right-back position with club captain Antonio Valencia set to leave in the summer.

Ashley Young and DiogoDalot have alternated the position but the former turns 34 in the summer, why the latter is still young and inexperienced.

Crystal Palace defender Wan-Bissaka has also been lined-up as an alternative if the move fails to materialize with reports suggesting that a deal could be in place. However, Cancelo remains the first choice target for the Red Devils

Cancelo has shown during stints at Juventus and Valencia that he has the ability to play for some of the best sides in Europe.  He has so far won the Serie A title in each season that he has spent in Turin

It remains to be seen how this transfer would develop in the summer but £51 million is a good price for a player of his calibre.