United plotting 35m opening offer for German giant, he is set to star at the World Cup – report

Manchester United could do with reinforcements at the back given the injury-prone nature of several stars. Matthijs de Ligt was sidelined from November until the end of the season, and following his operation, there is no telling when the Dutchman will be ready to play again. Lisandro Martinez has suffered numerous injuries since his move to Old Trafford. The less said the better about Luke Shaw. The Red Devils did tie down Harry Maguire to a new short-term deal, but the Englishman is 33 and cannot play three games in a week. Why strengthening at the back is key Both Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro remain raw, and the situation dictates that the 20-time English league champions must enter the market for a new centre-back. Interestingly, The Mirror have claimed that the Old Trafford side are looking at Borussia Dortmund defender Waldemar Anton. It is a surprising update given the fact that the Germany international is 29 years old, with INEOS following a strict policy of not signing players over 26. The report further claims that United are weighing up a £35 million bid for the Uzbekistan-born defender. United preparing opening offer for Waldemar Anton “Manchester United are weighing up a £35million bid for Borussia Dortmund defender Waldemar Anton. United boss Michael Carrick is keen to sign a new centre-back this summer, and has sent scouts to watch Anton in action. “Huge doubts remain over the immediate futures of United duo Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt. Both have been sidelined with serious injuries and United have concerns about the poor fitness records of both defenders. “United could now turn to Anton – and make him one of their summer signings. Anton joined Dortmund from Stuttgart in 2024 for a fee of £18m, and has established himself as one of the best defenders in the Bundesliga.” Waldemar Anton can also play as a right-back and has a market value of £15.5 million, a far cry from United’s initial bid amount. Current price tag seems excessive The German will be in action during the World Cup, and his performances might see his price explode amid interest from other clubs. Or it could be a ploy from the German club to inflate their star’s price in order to extract the best possible deal. Anton’s current contract is valid until 2028. Feature image Fabio Deinert 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 Ayantan Chowdhury After failing to become a professional footballer, Ayantan switched to the next best thing: writing about the greatest football club in the world. He has extensive sports journalism experience, having worked for over 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25