Manchester United have already been extremely busy in the summer transfer market and they are showing no signs of slowing down. Erik ten Hag’s side have secured the signing of Dutch international forward Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna and are closing in on the arrival of teenage defender Leny Yoro from Lille. They have also sold Willy Kambwala to Villarreal, Alvaro Fernandez to Benfica and Donny van de Beek to Girona, while Omari Forson has joined Monza on a free transfer, and Raphael Varane, Anthony Martial, Brandon Williams and Shola Shoretire have also been released….READ FULL ARTICLE...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE ▶▶
Mason Greenwood is close to joining Marseille, and Scott McTominay, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Victor Lindelof have been linked with moves away from Old Trafford as United look to trade more players to fund their transfer overhaul. United have been linked with midfielders Manuel Ugarte and Joao Neves, while they are still in the market for two further centre-halves beyond the Yoro deal.
Personal terms have been agreed with Bayern Munich defender Matthijs De Ligt but they have seen two bids rejected for Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite. Now, Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah has emerged as a potential alternative. As such, Manchester Evening News have rounded up everything you need to know about United’s pursuit of the German international.
Bayer Leverkusen’s stance
Tah is the club’s vice-captain and made 48 appearances in all competitions last term as Leverkusen won an historic first Bundesliga title while going the entire season unbeaten, won the DFB Pokal and reached the final of the Europa League. The 28-year-old is a regular for the German national team, too, and is one of Bayer’s core players they want to build their team around as they look to defend their title this term.
However, he is out of contract at the BayArena next summer and he is yet to sign a new deal with the club. Manager Xabi Alonso does not want to lose him but there is an acceptance this transfer window will be the last chance they have to recoup a sizeable fee for the defender.
As such, Leverkusen will not accept anything less than €40million (£33.7million) for the defender they signed for €7.5 million nine years ago.
Joel Matip gives United transfer greenlight
However, Leverkusen are interested in signing former Liverpool defender Joel Matip on a free transfer this summer. The Cameroon international left Anfield after eight years last month after winning seven major trophies on Merseyside.
The 32-year-old is weighing up his next move and he could be tempted by a return to Germany, with Alonso ‘very interested’ in securing his services, according to Sky Sports in Germany. Matip previously spent seven years at Schalke 04, helping the club win the DFB Pokal and the DFL-Supercup, as well as reaching the Champions League semi-finals in 2011.
Leverkusen believe Matip’s experience will be vital as they bid to defend their German title and navigate the Champions League, which he won with Liverpool, next term. Should that deal go through, it could make Tah’s departure more palatable.
Bayern Munich competition
United would face competition from German giants Bayern Munich for Tah’s signature, though. Reeling from losing their Bundesliga title to Leverkusen, Bayern are keen to take three of their key players from last season to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
Josip Stanisic spent last season on loan at the BayArena and he will return to Bavaria this term. They are also keen on signing Leverkusen superstar Florian Wirtz, too.
And they believe they can take advantage of Tah’s contract situation by lodging a bid this summer. They are currently €20million short of Bayer’s valuation but Tah is believed to be open to a move to the Allianz Arena….READ FULL ARTICLE
