United’s pursuit of Bundesliga sensation under threat from Chelsea and Bayern Munich in January – report

Manchester United may have scored the third-most goals in the Premier League this season, but their inability to keep them out at the other end has proved costly Ruben Amorim’s side are sixth in the league table after 15 games, eight points adrift of leaders Arsenal. For the record, the Gunners have scored 28 and conceded just nine in the league so far. The Red Devils, meanwhile, have found the net 26 time but shipped 22 goals, with only Liverpool (24) posting a worse defensive record in the top half of the league table. Naturally, the situation has fuelled talk of defensive reinforcements ahead of 2026. Amorim’s defensive dilemma There’s a belief that Amorim needs a defensive shake-up in 2026, with Harry Maguire out of contract at the end of this season. Luke Shaw has been excellent this campaign, starting every game in the Premier League so far, but is set to turn 31 next summer. Lisandro Martinez, on the other hand, has struggled to stay fit, and has yet to start a game this season. A previous report relayed by The Peoples Person stated that United have identified RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba as an option to address the situation. The Frenchman is one of the best defenders in the Bundesliga, and has made 14 appearances across all competitions this season, all of which have been starts. Castello Lukeba Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Bundesliga121–––1,080′ DFB-Pokal2–1––180′ Total1411––1,260′ Source: Transfermarkt.Lukeba is dominant in the air, boasts tremendous pace and possesses impressive ball-playing abilities as well. All these traits make him a good fit under Amorim at Old Trafford, but it now appears that the Red Devils have fallen behind in the race for his signature. Chelsea leading Lukeba pursuit According to TEAMtalk, Chelsea are the favourites to sign Lukeba in January, while Bayern Munich are also in the race. The report adds that while the player has a €80 million release clause in his deal that becomes active next summer, there’s a belief that he could be available for around €60 million. “RB Leipzig’s elegant French centre-back Castello Lukeba could become the most eye-catching defensive signing of the January window, with Chelsea and Bayern Munich both considering a mid-season transfer.” “The 22-year-old left-footed defender, capped by France at senior level, has a contract until 2029 but carries release clauses that drop progressively: €80million (£70m) next summer, falling to €65m (£57m) in 2027. Crucially, sources in Germany indicate Leipzig would listen to offers as low as €60m (£52m) this winter if they fall short of Champions League qualification, opening the door for an immediate move.” The report names United among the player’s suitors, but adds that they are not expected to make a move until next summer. “The Blues are prepared to bid €55-60m (£48-52m) in the coming weeks and believe personal terms would be straightforward. Bayern Munich remain a serious threat. Sporting director Max Eberl, who helped bring Lukeba to Leipzig in 2023, retains a strong relationship with the player’s camp.” “Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Real Madrid continue to monitor developments, but none of those clubs are expected to move before the summer. Chelsea currently lead the race, but Bayern’s pull remains formidable.” Final Thoughts While United are likely to prioritise a move for a new midfielder in 2026, it looks increasingly clear that they will also have to pay attention to the backline. As such, this latest development could be a setback for the Red Devils’ summer plans. However, the Premier League giants could also turn to alternative targets like Nico Schlotterbeck, another physical defender who is also excellent with the ball. 🇫🇷 Castello Lukeba (RB Leipzig, 22) 🎖️ 93rd percentile for defensive duel %🎖️ 93rd percentile for progressive passes🎖️ 81st percentile for passes completed No U23 centreback has more progressive passes or progressive actions in the Top 5 Leagues 🎯 👉 https://t.co/CXqK93gR69 pic.twitter.com/b0NpGofIZL — DataMB (@DataMB_) December 7, 2025 Featured image Luciano Lima via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.