Manchester United are considering a repeat of last summer’s transfer plan as the club weighs up a move for yet another Bayern Munich defender, according to a report from Germany.
Twice bitten, not shy
Matthijs de Ligt, 26, and Noussair Mazraoui, 27, were signed in a joint raid on the Allianz Arena last year to reunite the pair with Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford, having both previously played for the Dutch manager with Ajax.
Their combined fee totalled over £60 million with add-ons – an expensive outlay but a reasonable one given the pair’s experience at the highest level in European football relative to their respective ages.
Both De Ligt and Mazraoui are primed for important roles this season, despite Ten Hag having been replaced by Ruben Amorim in November, as the former Sporting manager’s 3-4-2-1 system employs an extra central defender – a role both players are comfortable fulfilling.
De Ligt has primarily operated as the central centre-back in this system (CCB) and the Dutchman offers more athleticism than his competitor for the position, Harry Maguire.
Mazraoui, typically a fullback throughout his career, has often played as one of the two centre-backs on the outside, though the Morocco international can also play as a wing-back.
But United are reported to be considering a move for another Bayern defender with France international Dayot Upamecano “on their radar,” according to Christian Falk.
Upamecano on the radar
Upamecano, 26, is a central defender with outstanding athleticism and high levels of technical ability. He he won multiple trophies with Bayern as well as the World Cup with France in 2018.
Speaking to German outlet CFBayern, Falk reveals the “Red Devils have included the 26-year-old on their list of priorities, as his contract is set to expire next summer.”
The Bundesliga expert states Upamecano’s agent, Moussa Sissoko, has “offered his client to Premier League clubs” with “interest” from United.
“Bayern are pushing hard to reach an agreement with Upamecano over a new deal, but as of now, there has been little or no progress. The negotiations are dragging on for a long time, and it is leaving Bayern frustrated, as surely they do not want another Leroy Sane saga to unfold.”
Bayern boss Vincent Kompany is reported to consider Upamecano a key part of his starting eleven alongside new signing Jonathan Tah, so it remains to be seen whether INEOS can prise another defensive jewel from Die Roten to join Amorim’s revolution at Old Trafford.
Featured image Kevin C. Cox via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
