Manchester United ‘strongly considering’ making offer for ‘affordable’ Bundesliga star

Manchester United are ‘strongly considering’ making an offer for an ‘affordable’ signing from the Bundesliga this summer.

The Reds have several key priority signings ahead of the 2024/25 season, with central defence being one of those.

Raphaël Varane has departed the club, and United need additional quality and support in a position that was plagued with injuries last term.

Jarrad Branthwaite has been identified as the favourite option, but there are currently no signs that Everton will budge from their £70 million valuation.

United had an opening offer of £43 million rejected for the defender, and they are not willing to match a price tag they consider as unrealistic.

This means that additional targets will have to be sought out and it seems that a new name has emerged this week.

According to Mark Brus on Fabrizio Romano’s Daily Briefing, the Reds highly regard Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Odilon Kossounou.

They are alongside Newcastle United and Liverpool in admiring the Bundesliga winner. Kossounou made 22 league appearances during Die Werkself’s unprecedented unbeaten campaign last term.

The aforementioned report explained that United and Newcastle are strongly considering making a move for the 23-year-old, who is considered a realistic option available for an ‘affordable’ fee.

While it was stated that Leverkusen have offered the defender a new deal, he is yet to respond to their offer and is open to leaving the club.

Bayer Leverkusen could let him go for a fee in the region of £38 million – almost half of the asking price Everton are demanding for Branthwaite.

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