United now eyeing “one of the strongest” players in Europe, 26-yo giant could replace Carrick favourite – report

Manchester United entered the winter transfer window with Ruben Amorim as head coach. At the time, it seemed that Harry Maguire’s time at Old Trafford would certainly come to an end at the conclusion of the campaign. Since January, Maguire has been free to speak with overseas clubs, as his contract is due to expire in the summer. However, the Englishman has so far resisted approaches from his suitors. Harry Maguire has experienced something of a resurgence under Michael Carrick, and United are now expected to offer him a new contract. Regardless, the Red Devils are also monitoring the market and could bring in a new central defender. Manchester United in the race to sign Alessandro Bastoni According to a report, as relayed by Teamtalk, Manchester United are “interested” in signing Inter Milan centre-back Alessandro Bastoni. The 26-year-old is considered “priceless” at Inter, having established himself as a leading figure at San Siro. Legendary Juventus centre-back Giorgio Chiellini believes Bastoni is “one of the strongest” central defenders around. The Italian, who stands at six feet three inches tall, is equally impressive in possession and drives up the field like a midfielder. The report claims any move for Bastoni “would require a significant fee”, as he is contracted to the Nerazzurri until the summer of 2028. Furthermore, United face competition from Arsenal, Barcelona and Real Madrid for Bastoni’s services.  Inter Milan monitoring Andre Onana Interestingly, United could have an advantage in the race for Bastoni, as Inter are reportedly considering the possibility of re-signing Andre Onana. The Serie A giants intend to replace Yann Sommer in the summer. Onana, who is currently away on loan at Trabzonspor, is highly rated by Inter and their head coach, Cristian Chivu. Onana has no future at Old Trafford. As such, if United do decide to make a move for Bastoni, Onana could be used to sweeten a deal.  Featured image Emmanuele Ciancaglini 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 Vishal Singh Vishal has worked in the football media industry for over six years, planning, writing, and editing content for several major outlets, including North Star Network. Vishal has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Delhi University. Currently a writer at The Peoples Person, he covers Manchester United — a club he has been religiously following and supporting since 2012. Vishal also manages a leading MUFC fan page, The Red Devils, on Facebook with over a million likes. Big fan of ball-playing centre-backs and Harry Maguire’s knee-slide celebration!