Manchester United are targeting centre back additions having secured a first signing of the summer transfer window on Sunday.
Joshua Zirkzee is now on board at Old Trafford having completed his move to Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.
The Dutchman arrives to bolster Erik ten Hag’s attacking options after helping Bologna qualify for the Champions League.
United would no doubt love Zirkzee to do the same next season but more additions will be needed around him.
Centre backs appear to be the focus for United even though a deal for Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite now looks unlikely.
United are strongly pursuing Lille wonderkid Leny Yoro as well as Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt.
Deals for the pair are being worked on but United reportedly have another target in mind this summer…
Manchester United explore Jonathan Tah deal
The focus appears to be on De Ligt but United are looking at another Bundesliga centre back.
Sky Sports claim that United have ‘made a check’ on the situation of Bayer Leverkusen star Jonathan Tah.
It’s noted that Bayern Munich are in ‘advanced’ talks to sign Tah but the deal is not done just yet.
United seemingly made late enquiries into a move for Tah, gauging whether Bayern can be hijacked or not.
Tah was outstanding for Leverkusen this past season, serving as vice-captain during an unbeaten Bundesliga-winning campaign.
Tah and his teammates lost just one game in all competitions last season and the 28-year-old may feel that it’s time for something new.
The 6ft 5in defender has spent nine years with Leverkusen, racking up more than 350 appearances.
Hailed as a ‘leader’ by teammate Jonas Hofmann, Tah is tough, uncompromising and experienced whilst still having plenty left in the tank – especially having developed in terms of his ball-playing ability under Xabi Alonso.
United mind games a possibility
Tah is a quality centre back and a deal would see him strengthen United’s defensive options.
Yet there is a real chance here that United are playing mind games with Bayern.
It’s common knowledge that United want Bayern centre back De Ligt but no deal is in place as things stand.
Reports in Germany suggest that Bayern need to sell De Ligt in order to fund a move for Tah this summer.
United may well explore a deal for Tah as a tactic to force Bayern into selling De Ligt quicker – possibly for a lower fee than first expected – in order to avoid missing out on Tah.
The transfer window brings a lot of brinkmanship and experienced operators such as Dan Ashworth and Jason Wilcox may use every trick in the book to try and secure deals for United.
United may just be dangling the idea of signing Tah in order to force Bayern’s hand, with De Ligt certainly expected to be the prime target over the German.
De Ligt himself may be hoping that is the case too; Tah to United may leave him stuck at Bayern, where he is seemingly slipping down the pecking order.
We would be surprised to see Tah arrive over De Ligt and this really may be a case of United playing some mind games as talks with Bayern continue.