According to Foot Mercato, Manchester United have joined Chelsea in the race to sign RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba this summer.
The youngster made his senior debut for France last year but was sent back to the U23 setup. However, he has grabbed eyeballs for Leipzig in the Bundesliga.
He has made 37 appearances for his side this season and has started six of the past seven league games. He has been a regular player for Marco Rose and stamped his authority for the centre-back spot.
As per reports, Man United have been monitoring Luleba for the past week. However, both United and Chelsea are not ready to pay the player’s €70 million release clause. They want to negotiate for a lower fee in the upcoming months.
Leipzig is not ready to budge on their current price, and hence, any interested parties need to wait until 2025 to make a move.
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The Red Devils are facing a shortage of defenders since most of them are sidelined with injuries. Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof, and Luke Shaw have missed a majority of the games.
Meanwhile, Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans have faced minor setbacks this season. Harry Maguire is the only regular player in the squad, but the club will be careful not to overburden the Englishman. Willy Kambwala has been made to play alongside Maguire in the past few weeks.
The Premier League giants could sell some of these players to make room for young players. Varane and Evans are linked with a move away. Also, Lindelof’s future at the club is uncertain.
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Hence, United’s links to Lukeba make sense. Erik ten Hag’s side is also targeting Bologna’s Jhon Lucumi. The 25-year-old has been a regular player for the Serie A side, and his ball-playing ability suits United’s style of play.
However, other clubs are also keeping a close eye on these targets, and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s side needs to be swift to close these deals. Lukeba’s move is doubtful due to his release clause.
The Red Devils should be hunting for cheaper and proven players like Jean Claire Todibo in the summer.
