Manchester United are reportedly eyeing a transfer for Senegal defender Mikayil Faye after John Murtough’s recent trip to Barcelona
Manchester United’s football director, John Murtough, along with head negotiator Matt Judge, recently visited Barcelona to meet with executives.
Following this, John Murtough flew to Madrid to engage with counterparts from Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.
INEOS preparing for first transfer window
This signals a significant move for United in the transfer market, especially as it marks their first window under the control of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS team.
Despite uncertainty surrounding Erik ten Hag’s position, the club is pushing ahead with their transfer agenda, with securing a defender being a top priority.
United’s campaign has been hampered by long-term injuries to key players like Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, and Tyrell Malacia this season.
Who is Manchester United’s target?
To bolster their defensive options, United are eyeing 19-year-old Mikayil Faye, who has already made an impact on the international stage with Senegal, scoring on his debut against Gabon.
According to the DailyMail, Scouts from United reportedly monitored his performance closely during the match.
Faye’s versatility as both a left-back and centre-back addresses two areas of concern for United. Despite not yet making his senior debut for Barcelona, his performances for their B team have caught the eye, resulting in a valuation of £25m.
With the need to trim expenses this summer, the club is reluctantly considering selling Faye. Previous bids from clubs like Nice, Lyon, Bayer Leverkusen, and Inter Milan were rejected, but United may now entertain offers.
Additionally, the potential departure of Jonny Evans and the uncertain future of Raphael Varane further emphasize the need for defensive reinforcements at United.
