Manchester United
Premier League • England
Man Utd centre-back targets: Every option linked for a summer switch assessed
TT takes an in-depth look at every CB linked with Man Utd this summer
Manchester United will be in the market for a new centre-back in the summer transfer window – and they’ve been linked with a lot of potential targets.
Raphael Varane has already confirmed that he will leave the club in the summer upon the expiry of his contract, following three seasons at Old Trafford.
Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire also face uncertain futures at the club as Manchester United plan to overhaul the squad.
Below, TEAMtalk guides you through all the centre-backs that United have been linked with since the last transfer window closed. We tell you their ages, current clubs, contract situations and what the level of interest might be.
PREMIER LEAGUE
Trevoh Chalobah
Current club: Chelsea
Age: 24
Contract expires: 2028
The defender is being strongly tipped to leave Stamford Bridge this summer in order for Chelsea to stay on the right side of the Premier League’s stricter than ever FFP regulations.
The London club have reportedly told United it would take an offer of just £25m to prise him away this summer, a deal which is probably a no-brainer at that price.
Jarrad Branthwaite
Current club: Everton
Age: 21
Contract expires: 2027
Branthwaite has been Everton’s standout performer in 2023/24 and TEAMtalk understands that United have made the centre-back their top defensive target.
The Toffees value the 21-year-old at around £80million, although United are reportedly planning an opening offer of £55million.
Tackle, stare, chest bump.
Cold from @Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite 🥶 pic.twitter.com/gCaTOULdcA
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 28, 2024
Marc Guehi
Current club: Crystal Palace
Age: 23
Contract expires: 2026
A Chelsea academy graduate, Guehi has gone from strength to strength since joining Crystal Palace in the summer of 2021.
He has been linked with a return to Stamford Bridge but United, Liverpool and Arsenal have also been credited with an interest in the England international.
Max Kilman
Current club: Wolves
Age: 26
Contract expires: 2028
Kilman was the subject of a £30million bid from Napoli last year, though Wolves rebuffed this and he subsequently penned a new five-year deal at the Molineux.
But United could test Wolves’ resolve with a summer bid as they have reportedly sent staff to watch the 26-year-old several times this season.
Murillo
Current club: Nottingham Forest
Age: 21
Contract expires: 2028
Murillo joined Nottingham Forest from Corinthians last year and has enjoyed an impressive debut season in the Premier League.
Online reports in England claim that United, Chelsea and Liverpool have registered their interest in the centre-back, while Paris Saint-Germain are keeping tabs on his development.
Our Murillo 🪨 pic.twitter.com/tV110PK7CM
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) May 5, 2024
Micky van de Ven
Current club: Tottenham
Age: 23
Contract expires: 2029
Since joining Tottenham from Wolfsburg last summer, Van de Ven has made a seamless transition to Premier League football.
Online reports in England claim that United are big admirers of the Netherlands international, although a summer move seems highly unlikely.
LA LIGA
Ronald Araujo
Current club: Barcelona
Age: 25
Contract expires: 2026
Barcelona may sell Araujo in the summer in order to comply with FFP regulations and sources have told TEAMtalk that United hold a genuine interest in the Uruguay international.
Pau Cubarsi
Current club: Barcelona
Age: 17
Contract expires: 2027
United were reportedly looking to trigger the £8.5million release clause in Cubarsi’s contract, but he’s since signed a new deal at Barcelona and the clause now stands at £430.6million.
Pau Cubarsí 💎#UCL pic.twitter.com/Di3u5KNFoE
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 14, 2024
Mikayil Faye
Current club: Barcelona
Age: 19
Contract expires: 2027
Despite the fact that Faye is yet to feature for Barcelona’s first team, the centre-back has reportedly done enough to attract interest from United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen and Inter Milan.
Nacho Fernandez
Current club: Real Madrid
Age: 34
Contract expires: 2024
Nacho will end his 23-year association with Madrid this summer and reports in Spain – not necessarily from the most reliable outlets – have mentioned United as a potential destination for the versatile defender.
Jules Kounde
Current club: Barcelona
Age: 25
Contract expires: 2027
Kounde – who can play at right-back and centre-back – faces an uncertain future at Barcelona and United’s interest in the 25-year-old has been confirmed by our own colleague Rudy Galetti.
BUNDESLIGA
Matthijs De Ligt
Current club: Bayern Munich
Age: 24
Contract expires: 2027
De Ligt played under Erik ten Hag at Ajax and reports in Germany claim that the manager wants to reunite with the centre-back at Old Trafford.
Matthijs de Ligt could be a target for Manchester United as Erik ten Hag plans to rework his defence.
Odilon Kossounou
Current club: Bayer Leverkusen
Age: 23
Contract expires: 2026
Kossounou helped Bayer Leverkusen win the Bundesliga title this season, and he has been linked with moves to United and Tottenham.
Castello Lukeba
Current club: RB Leipzig
Age: 21
Contract expires: 2028
Lukeba has enjoyed an impressive debut season at RB Leipzig and reports in the defender’s native France claim that United have been monitoring his progress.
Willian Pacho
Current club: Eintracht Frankfurt
Age: 22
Contract expires: 2028
Online reports in England claim that United have sent scouts to Frankfurt to watch Pacho, who has also been linked with Liverpool and Arsenal.
Edmond Tapsoba
Current club: Bayer Leverkusen
Age: 25
Contract expires: 2028
Alongside Kossounou, Tapsoba played an integral role in Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga triumph and Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that United have been scouting the defender for a long time.
Dayot Upamecano
Current club: Bayern Munich
Age: 25
Contract expires: 2026
Upamecano has fallen down the pecking order at Bayern Munich and our correspondent Rudy Galetti recently revealed that he’s on United’s shortlist.
LIGUE 1
Jean-Clair Todibo
Current club: OGC Nice
Age: 24
Contract expires: 2027
Leny Yoro
Current club: Lille
Age: 18
Contract expires: 2025
Yoro is regarded as one of the best young centre-backs in the world and TEAMtalk understands that United scouts have been present at a number of the defender’s matches.
🇫🇷✨ 18-year-old center-back Leny Yoro has been impressive for Lille this season! 👏
Many top european clubs hold strong interest, one to watch. 💫pic.twitter.com/PgA6HyJwKD
— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) April 4, 2024
SERIE A
Alessandro Bastoni
Current club: Inter
Age: 25
Contract expires: 2028
United are reportedly lining up a £52million bid for Bastoni ahead of the transfer window, although the rumour has come from a questionable source in Spain.
Gleison Bremer
Current club: Juventus
Age: 27
Contract expires: 2028
A number of outlets in both England and Italy have confirmed United’s interest in Bremer, who is reportedly valued at £51million.
Riccardo Calafiori
Current club: Bologna
Age: 21
Contract expires: 2027
Calafiori has excelled for Bologna in 2023/24 and his performances have not gone unnoticed, with United, Tottenham and Juventus reportedly keeping tabs on the defender.
Dean Huijsen
Current club: Juventus
Age: 19
Contract expires: 2028
Huijsen has spent the second half of the 2023/24 season on loan at Roma and United are among the many clubs to be scouting the teenager.
Dean Huijsen in action for Roma
Jhon Lucumi
Current club: Bologna
Age: 25
Contract expires: 2026
Lucumi could leave Bologna in the summer, with reports in his native Colombia indicating that United and Atletico Madrid have both made enquiries into his availability.
Giorgio Scalvini
Current club: Atalanta
Age: 20
Contract expires: 2028
Scalvini signed a new long-term contract at Atalanta earlier this year but reports in Italy claim that United are still sending scouts to follow the 20-year-old.
PRIMEIRA LIGA
Ousmane Diomande
Current club: Sporting CP
Age: 20
Contract expires: 2027
Diomande helped Sporting CP win the Primeira Liga in 2023/24 and his form has reportedly attracted the attention of some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including United.
Goncalo Inacio
Current club: Sporting CP
Age: 22
Contract expires: 2027
Reports out of Portugal suggest that United and Liverpool are battling to sign Inacio, who has a £51million release clause in his Sporting CP contract.
💚 Gonçalo Inácio rising highest 👊@SportingCP || #UEL pic.twitter.com/TVeagftMzp
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) February 20, 2024
Antonio Silva
Current club: Benfica
Age: 20
Contract expires: 2027
Silva has established himself as one of the most sought-after defenders in Europe and Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that United scouts have been monitoring his development.
REST OF THE WORLD
Aaron Anselmino
Current club: Boca Juniors
Age: 19
Contract expires: 2028
According to reports in Argentina, United were planning to trigger the £18.5million release clause in Anselmino’s contract but Boca Juniors have now removed that clause.
READ MORE: Dan Ashworth’s Man Utd inbox: Ten Hag sack plans, replacing Casemiro, easing the financial burden…
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