Tyrell Malacia: Why Feyenoord defender is ready to snub Man Utd for Lyon
Robin Bairner
- 24 Jun 2022 19:58 BST
- 3 min read
Promising Feyenoord defender Tyrell Malacia is set to reject the opportunity to sign for Manchester United and instead complete a transfer to Lyon.
The 22-year-old defender has been a major target for new Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag since he took over the club, but the Old Trafford outfit have long faced competition from the Ligue 1 club to capture the promising youngster.
In what is becoming an all-too familiar tale for the Premier League giants, they are set to be snubbed by Malacia, who is poised to complete a transfer to Lyon for €14 million.
Despite Lyon’s long-standing interest, Malacia’s decision will come as a shock to United fans, who have already seen their club suffer transfer market frustration this summer as they have missed out on a string of targets, while even Frenkie de Jong is having major doubts over the wisdom of moving to the club.
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Malacia was a player they would have thought they would be able to go toe-to-toe with a mid-table Ligue 1 side quite comfortably. Lyon, after all, suffered a similarly frustrating season to the Red Devils. Indeed, OL finished their campaign eighth in France’s top flight and will not play European football at all next term.
The Rhone giants, though, have elected to stick by head coach Peter Bosz, and that is set to pay off in this case, with Malacia’s decision based on his desire to work alongside the Dutchman, according to Fabrizio Romano.
He is set to replace Chelsea left-back Emerson as first choice left-back at Parc OL, with the Brazilian have spent a season on loan in France last term.
Indeed, guaranteed first-team football is likely another one of his motivating factors for moving to Lyon. Whereas at Man Utd, he would have to battle with England defender Luke Shaw for a starting place, there is little such competition in France, with right-back Leo Dubois arguably his greatest rival.
