Arias 'has bags packed' for Man Utd free transfer

Karan Tejwani

13 Sept 2022 11:15 BST
3 min read

Santiago Arias is reportedly ready to move to Manchester United as the club look to improve their options at right-back in the coming weeks.

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The Red Devils wanted to do so in the transfer window but ran out of time and diverted their funds elsewhere as they needed to fix other areas of the squad in the summer.

Manchester United spent £218 million in the summer, bringing in players like Antony, Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro and more, but they now want competition at right-back.

Diogo Dalot has started the season well, becoming Erik ten Hag’s undisputed first-choice, but the Dutch coach doesn’t seem to prefer Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who hasn’t played all season.

Arias could be on his way to Old Trafford

As a result, Ten Hag wants to bring in Arias, who has been without a club since the summer having been released by Atletico Madrid over the summer.

The 30-year-old will ideally come in on a short-term deal – probably lasting until the end of the current season – to provide more depth, competition and quality to the squad.

Journalists in South America are optimistic about the transfer happening, with Johnson Saenz saying: “Santiago Arias has his bags ready to move to Manchester United.”

Santiago Arias will be available on a free transfer. Contract termination has been signed with Atletico Madrid agreed to part ways with immediate effect. 🚨🇨🇴 #transfers

Arias is ready and fit again, set for a new challenge. pic.twitter.com/raEIzuDZdA
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 12, 2022

Arias is more renowned for his attacking threat than Wan-Bissaka, and Ten Hag prefers a full-back who can provide quality on the attacking side of the pitch.

Arias has averaged a direct goal contribution every 6.75 match up to this point in his career, a decent record compared to Manchester United’s Wan-Bissaka, who averages one every 10.8 matches.

The Colombian also has an array of experience in Europe, playing for the likes of Bayer Leverkusen, PSV Eindhoven and Atletico Madrid, and that could be useful for Manchester United.

Ten Hag has made it a habit of signing players with priors in the Netherlands, so this signing would fit that billing as well, and the low cost of the operation would make this a worthwhile deal.