United close in on all-action French titan, £35m deal hinges on one condition – report

Manchester United’s pursuit of Juventus utility man Pierre Kalulu appears to have taken an optimistic turn. The French defender, who is capable of operating at centre-back as well as right-back, has earned admirers at several clubs across the continent after a series of impressive performances. His efforts have struck a chord at Old Trafford as well, with the Red Devils expected to consider defensive reinforcements this year. Despite the English giants’ impressive turnaround under caretaker manager Michael Carrick, the backline remains a concern. United scored 44 goals and conceded 54 in 38 Premier League games last season. After a significant investment in the attack, the Red Devils have scored 63 times in 35 league games this campaign, but have conceded 48 as well. Understandably, the Premier League giants remain open to the prospect of adding more quality to their backline before the start of the new campaign. One player who remains heavily linked with a move to the Theatre of Dreams is Pierre Kalulu. A versatile defender Kalulu has made 46 appearances in all competitions this season for Juventus, scoring twice and setting up seven more. He has operated at centre-back and right-back, while also filling in on the right wing on a couple of occasions. Pierre Kalulu Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Serie A343425113,012′ UEFA Champions League1010-2–919′ Italy Cup22—-180′ Total464627114,111′ Source: Transfermarkt. The 25 year old’s versatility also makes him an attractive prospect for United, especially since Diogo Dalot could do with more competition for the right-back spot. The Frenchman’s aerial dominance and blistering pace could also help him adapt to the rigours of the Premier League. A recent report relayed by The Peoples Person suggests that United have stepped up their pursuit of Kalulu. An update on the situation has now emerged. Juventus set asking price According to journalist Mark Brus, Juventus consider Kalulu central to their plans and are already planning to renew his deal. In his column for Caught Offside, the journalist writes: “Sources close to the Italian giants insist they ‘do not intend to sell Kalulu’ and view him as ‘central’ to their long-term project.” “Some sources have also suggested that Juventus are preparing a new contract for Kalulu, running until 2030, which would include a salary increase to around €3.5 million net per season plus bonuses.” Brus, however, insists that an exit could materialise for around €40 million, adding: “I feel I should also share some information, however, from sources who’ve done a lot of work in and around the agents industry, who state that the strong suspicion is that Juve would sell for the right price, perhaps around €40m, especially if the player won’t agree to a new contract.” The report names Liverpool and United as interested parties, but states that there is no clear frontrunner in the race right now. Final Thoughts Kalulu’s price tag makes him well within reach of United this summer, especially after securing qualification for the Champions League, which is likely to boost their finances. As such, the Red Devils must secure the Frenchman’s services before he is picked up by their bitter rivals. 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 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.