Familiar foe gatecrashes United’s audacious move for “one of Italy’s best defenders” – report

If Manchester United pull off a marquee defensive signing this summer, Pierre Kalulu looks the most likely candidate. The French defender is enjoying a transformative league campaign at Juventus. Although the Old Lady has endured a shaky 2025-26 season overall, Kalulu has consistently stood out as a beacon of hope. Kalulu‘s rare combination of blistering pace, backline versatility, elegant physicality in the tackle, and composure in playing out from the back has firmly established him as one of the finest defenders in Serie A. INEOS have already been dispatching scouts to watch him closely as they contemplate an audacious raid on Juve. And whilst no formidable transfer rival had appeared to threaten United’s pursuit of the 25-year-old, that has now changed. Liverpool join the Kalulu race According to Gazzetta dello Sport, United have been joined by a familiar foe. The Italian outlet reports: “Kalulu’s record-breaking season has not gone unnoticed in the Premier League; Manchester United and Liverpool will try to tempt Juventus.” A fierce transfer battle brewing Liverpool’s entry into the race transforms what was once a straightforward pursuit into a fierce transfer battle. Just as United’s biggest priority remains bolstering their midfield, it is equally no secret that the Reds are desperate to revamp their backline, so they will go to considerable lengths to land their defensive targets. That determination will make the Red Devils’ Kalulu chase significantly trickier. Nevertheless, INEOS have had the former AC Milan man on their radar far longer than their rivals. Surely, then, they have already mapped out how to outmanoeuvre the competition, should Juventus sanction his departure come summer. Featured image Valerio Pennicino 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   Daniel Onguko Dan is a writer with The Peoples Person, an avid Manchester United fan whose passion for the Red Devils evolved into writing about them. He was introduced to United back in 2008, and his love for the club has continued to grow ever since. Like every other United fan, he believes the club will soon return to its rightful place and strives to reflect that belief in his writing. While he has also written about other Premier League sides, including Arsenal for Just Arsenal and The Arsenal Analysis Blogspot, Dan lives and breathes Manchester United.