Juventus are attempting to sign one Manchester United defender this summer as part of a double swoop of Premier League talent.
Manchester United only have four games remaining this season and the club’s backroom staff are well underway preparing for an important summer transfer window.
Ruben Amorim will use this window to tailor the squad to fit his style of play and reinforce positions of weakness. Amorim has already overseen one transfer window at the club where defenders Ayden Heaven and Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu were brought into the club and attackers Marcus Rashford and Antony went out on loan.
To fund incoming transfers and alleviate weight from the wage bill, the club will be looking to offload multiple players when the transfer window opens permanently. Deals for Antony and Rashford could become permanent, and other players, such as Alejandro Garnacho, have been rumoured with exits.
In addition to the players the club is looking to sell, Christian Eriksen, Victor Lindelöf, and Jonny Evans will leave for free when their contract expires this summer.
Juventus’ Premier League double
According to the Italian outlet Calcio Mercato, Juventus are interested in signing United centre-back Lindelöf for free this summer. Lindelöf is one of the club’s longest-serving players, having joined from Benfica for £18.4 million in 2017.
Lindelof is part of a double Premier League swoop alongside Arsenal defensive midfielder Thomas Partey. Like Lindelöf, the Ghanaian international will be available as a free agent when his contract expires this Summer.
Although Juventus are on track to end the season conceding less than one goal per game on average, they are still looking to strengthen defensively to match likely title winners Napoli, who have conceded only 25 goals in 35 games.
The Swedish national team captain’s contract had a one-year extension clause, which the club activated last summer. This means if United wanted to keep Lindelöf, they would need to offer him a new contract, or else clubs like Juventus would be free to enter negotiations with him.
Is there value in keeping Lindelöf at United?
Although many club fans believe that Lindelöf has run his course, there is still evidence of his value to the squad. Juventus have been more successful in their respective leagues than United in recent years, and they clearly see value in him.
Additionally, Lindelöf has shown that he is the type of player who can be on the bench all season and still perform when he is needed. Lindelöf has featured prominently in the back end of the season, with 41% of his playtime since the start of April.
The 30-year-old has also played in three out of four of United’s last Europa League games, with the one he did not play in because of a family emergency. Lindelof has performed admirably in these games, with a goal-line clearance against Athletic Bilbao severely hindering the opposition’s chances of a comeback.
Manchester United will not make any money from Lindelöf’s departure on a free; instead, it will only remove his costs from the wage bill. This means the club has little financial need to complete the deal.
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Lindelöf is not of the same value to the squad as he was in 2019 when his last contract was signed, so offering him a new agreement on lower wages seems reasonable. This would also open the opportunity to sell him for a fee in the future.
Lindelöf has proven that he can be left out for most of the season and come into the squad and play well when needed. While it is important to give youth a chance, it is also valuable to have the option of a more senior head.
Additionally, if the Swede is to depart, his minutes will need to be replaced next season, which may mean bringing in someone new. While the club requires mass reinforcements in multiple areas this summer, it may not be financially feasible to bring in a Lindelof replacement as well.
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