United set to miss out on German colossus as he nears move to European giants – report

Manchester United may have improved significantly this season, but their defensive frailties remain a concern for Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese head coach refurbished his attack over the summer by removing the deadwood and adding Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha to his squad. Meanwhile, the Red Devils also addressed their long-standing goalkeeper issue by signing Senne Lammens on deadline day. United have massively improved in the final third, scoring the third-most goals in the league this season, and ended the weekend sixth in the Premier League table. However, they have also conceded the second-most goals in the top half of the table, after 15 games. A better performance at the back could have placed them further up the table, so the English giants are expected to consider defensive additions in 2026. A recent report relayed by The Peoples Person states that the Red Devils have Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck on their radar. One of Bundesliga’s best defenders Nico Schlotterbeck will enter the final 18 months of his contract with the Bundesliga giants in January and is yet to sign a new deal. The situation, understandably, has added to speculation regarding his future, especially since he is considered one of the finest defenders in the Bundesliga. This season, the German has made 16 appearances across all competitions for BVB, while also recording one goal and two assists. Nico Schlotterbeck Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Bundesliga9122-810′ UEFA Champions League5—-380′ DFB-Pokal2—-210′ Total16122-1,400′ Source: Transfermarkt.Harry Maguire is out of contract in just over six months, so a move for Schlotterbeck certainly makes sense for the Red Devils. With Luke Shaw also on the wrong side of 30 and Lisandro Martinez suffering from injuries, the left-footed German defender could fit Amorim’s tactics perfectly. A previous report from The Peoples Person states that Barcelona are also eyeing the player with interest. However, it now appears that the 26 year old could end up staying in Germany. Schlotterbeck open to Allianz Arena move According to journalist Christian Falk, as cited by TEAMtalk, Schlotterbeck is open to a move to Bayern Munich. However, the Bavarians have not made a move for the German defender yet. Bayern’s preference is to tie Dayot Upamecano down to a new deal, with the player due to become a free agent next summer. If the Frenchman ends up leaving, the Bundesliga champions could turn their attention to Schlotterbeck. However, if Upamecano ends up staying, Bayern may no longer pursue a move for the German defender. As such, all is not lost for United in this race. Final Thoughts United have struggled to prevent goals for a while, and if they are to return to their glory days, they will have to improve their defence. A move for Schlotterbeck ticks several boxes, and his contract situation could also allow the club to secure a cut-price deal next summer. The Red Devils should do everything in their power to convince the German to move to the Theatre of Dreams. Featured image Alex Grimm 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.