Manchester United join Manchester City in pursuit of 20-year-old defender: Reports
Manchester City will face competition from Manchester United in the race to sign Samson Baidoo, according to Fussball News. The 20-year-old defender has caught the eye with Red Bull Salzburg in recent times and has also turned heads at Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United.
The football circuit in Austria has emerged as a hotbed of talent in recent years. Baidoo is the latest name to emerge from the country and has already established himself as a first team regular under Pepijn Lijnders. The Austrian defender is good on the ball and has the ability to dominate in the box, which makes him a good fit for Premier League clubs.
Manchester United invested heavily in their backline this summer following Raphael Varane's departure. The Red Devils pipped Real Madrid to the services of highly talented French defender Leny Yoro. They also signed Matthij de Ligt from Bayern Munich.
However, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof are likely to leave next year, while Jonny Evans is in the final phase of his career. Manchester United are expected to further reinforce their defence next summer and have Baidoo on their agenda.
However, Manchester City already have their eyes on the Austrian defender and pose a big threat to their plans. Recent reports have suggested that the Cityzens have been monitoring the player for a while.
Manchester City have apparently identified Samson Baidoo as a priority target ahead of next summer. However, they will have to lock horns with their bitter rivals for the player.
Can Manchester United defeat Manchester City in the race for Samson Baidoo?
There has been a shift of power in the city of Manchester in recent years. Manchester City have won the last four Premier League titles and are now the dominant force in Europe.
Manchester United, however, are working to reclaim their position among the elites of Europe under new minority owners INEOS. The Red Devils have shifted their transfer strategy to focus on youth and Samson Baidoo fits the bill.
The Austrian is under contract with RB Salzburg until 2027, so prising him away won't be cheap. Manchester United have the finances to secure a deal and have shown that they can be shrewd negotiators under INEOS.
However, interest from Manchester City could be the biggest threat to their plans. The Cityzens' recent success could also tempt Baidoo to consider a move to the Etihad.
Interestingly, regular game time could be a deciding factor in the player's next move. The Austrian has started in nine of RB Salzburg's ten games this season and wouldn't be too keen to warm the bench at Manchester.