Manchester United Transfer News: Latest on Faouzi Ghoulam Rumours

Manchester United are reportedly halfway to an "agreement" to sign Napoli full-back Faouzi Ghoulam. The Algeria international's agent, Jorge Mendes, has already been working on a deal.

RAI Sport's Ciro Venerato told AreaNapoli (h/t Tom Coast of Sport Witness):

"Is Ghoulam covered by Manchester United? Yes, he's a champion, and despite the injury, he remains a man on the transfer market. United keep thinking about him.

"Between October and November, there was already a half agreement with Jorge Mendes to bring Alex Grimaldo (from Benfica) in blue (to Napoli) and Ghoulam to Manchester, but everything still needs to be concluded."

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This isn't the first time the Red Devils have been linked with Ghoulam. French source RMC (h/t The Sun's Anthony Chapman) recently reported United boss Jose Mourinho wants to sign the versatile and dynamic defender in a deal worth £26 million.

The investment makes sense given Gibbs reported Mourinho is plotting a defensive overhaul at Old Trafford this summer. Gibbs wrote that full-back Matteo Darmian, along with central defenders Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, are no longer guaranteed places at the club for next season.

Parting company with Darmian would only increase United's need for help at full-back. Regular starter Ashley Young is 32, but he has made the left-back berth his own while Mourinho has remained less than enamoured with Luke Shaw.

Young, like right-back Antonio Valencia, is a converted winger, so signing natural full-backs would be an obvious boost for the Red Devils' defence.

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When it comes to identifying Young's successor, Mourinho will struggle to find a better option than Ghoulam. The 27-year-old has been a key member of Napoli's free-flowing side this season.

Ghoulam has scored twice and provided three assists in Serie A. His pace, engine and technique have made him a raiding menace in a team reliant on its full-backs for width.

United have a similar reliance, since wide forwards Alexis Sanchez and Jesse Lingard both love to roam centrally. Ghoulam would offer United a younger alternative to Valencia and could become a fixture at a key position.

Signing him would rate as a minor coup for Mourinho.