Manchester United rekindle interest in Kamaldeen Sulemana as EPL giants launch bold approach in Qatar World Cup amid summer move for Ghanaian youngster
Manchester United will be using the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals in Qatar to watch and assess Rennes winger Kamaldeen Sulemana amid a move for the Ghanaian International when the summer transfer window opens in June.
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With the Qatar World Cup just around the corner, Kamaldeen Sulemana will be one of the exciting stars for Ghana who are in Group H along with Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay as the Black Stars will fight for one of the two slots to progress to the knockout phase of the FIFA tournament.
It remains unclear whether the Rennes winger will be a starter for Ghana, which if he tends, will boost his chances of joining some of the European elite clubs next season or even in the January transfer window, but the Ghanaian International has already began attracting interest from top European clubs even before the start of the World Cup.
At the end of last two seasons, Liverpool, Manchester United and Ajax were huge admirers of Kamaldeen Sulemana but failed to make a deal materialized with French Ligue 1 side Rennes securing the 20-year old’s signature on Danish leagues transfer record £13million plus £2million add-ons from FC Nordsjælland in July last term.
“I chose here (Rennes) based on my playing time and I think there’s a better chance of me playing more here than any other place, and I’ll play against great teams here as well,” Sulemana gave reasons why he chose the French side over other suitors.
Sulemana has played a year and 3 months of his 5-year contract at Rennes after surpassing former Danish leagues transfer record holder Alexander Sørloth following his departure from FC Nordsjælland in July 2021.
Ahead of next season, Sulemana is been tracked by a host of clubs with Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Everton, Benfica, Newcastle United and Manchester United interested in a move at the end of the current season.
Sulemana struck 14 times and 8 assists in 43 games across all competitions for FC Nordsjælland and has continued his form in the Ligue 1 making 10 goal contributions in 40 outings for Rennes since his move to France.
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Whiles Sulemana’s stats appears an average factor for Manchester United’s interest in him, the Ghanaian’s exploits at wide areas of the pitch excite Erik ten Hag’s side the most with his style of play thought to be a major need at Old Trafford.
Although Manchester United have some talented wingers Antony, Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Amad Diallo and Facundo Pellistri, Sulemana’s power on the ball and rate of entering into the box has make him a special target in sight of Old Trafford officials.
With the upcoming World Cup putting a short break on club football across Europe, Manchester United may launch a big approach ahead of summer move for Kamaldeen Sulemana by sending scouts to watch the Ghanaian International in Qatar to re-affirm their interest in the sensational winger.
United’s move has been revealed by The Guardian Journalist Ed Aarons who in an interview with GiveMeSport said the Premier League side will be sending scouts to Qatar to watch Kamaldeen Sulemana.
“I really do actually, this {Kamaldeen Sulemana} guy is very exciting. He was in Denmark until this season, and he moved to Rennes in the summer in a Danish record for the league for €20 million. And in France he’s doing very well as well, he’s a very exciting winger,” Aarons said this when he was asked whether he believes Manchester United will be one of the interested clubs to watch Sulemana at the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
The World Cup period will offer Man United the best assessment window since the tournament is the biggest in history of football but Sulemana’s chances to start for the Black Stars is what could hamper the EPL side’s chances ahead of summer move.
As per FBref, Sulemana has ranked in the 99th percentile for completed dribbles, 97th percentile for progressive passes received, 96th for total shots, and 93rd for touches in the attacking penalty area compared to his positional peers over the last year.
If Sulemana can perform to the best of his ability at the World Cup, then that might be a significant indicator to United that he is ready to take the next step in his promising career.
