Manchester United have made contact with a German club over the release clause of a ‘highly rated’ defender, as his situation is being monitored by European giants.
Manchester United have previously conducted a defensive overhaul. Leny Yoro arrived at the Reds off the back of a £72 million deal, and has matched expectations since.
Ayden Heaven follows suit. The 20-year-old arrived in Manchester with little expectations, having cost United only £1 million, but has surpassed expectations.
Mathijis de Ligt and Patrick Dorgu signed for the club in the same season, but at very different points, under different managers, and have become influential players at the club.
But the acquisitions don’t stop there, the Reds have been linked with various defenders from across Europe, and have contacted RB Leipzig over the release clause of a ‘highly rated’ centre back.
United target Lukeba
TeamTalk has reported that the Reds are in for RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba, after the board contacted the German club over his supposed release clause.
United, however, will have to fend off interest from other European giants, as it’s been reported that Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are also monitoring the player, with Arsenal having sent scouts to watch him this year, too.
Lukeba’s value is increased by his stronger left foot, a trait rare in a top-tier centre back, especially in teams that prefer to play out from the back, as the Reds are prone to do.
Lukeba’s proposed release clause is set to drop to £70 million, which has piqued United’s interest, especially amid cost-cutting imposed by INEOS.
The Frenchman would likely compete with senior figure Lisandro Martinez for a place in the starting XI, as the Argentine currently has the left side of the defence locked down when he is not out with injury.
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Lukeba could kick off summer signings
The signing of Lukeba could start a wave of summer signings, with the board hinting at a £190 million summer rebuild.
Sandro Tonali, Elliot Anderson, and Anthony Gordon are names floating around media speculation, but all require a hefty fee to steal them away from their respective clubs.
The board has identified the central midfielder position as a priority signing, after the announcement that Casemiro would leave the Reds at the end of the season.
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Fans have been crying out for a left-back to reinforce a position that lacks depth, as Luke Shaw and Dorgu remain injured currently. Lewis Hall and David Raum are touted as solid signings.
Lukeba is a player who can operate on the left, but his preferred position is in that central role. With the talent coming through to push for a start next season, don’t be surprised if we see a complete shakeup at the back.
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