Manchester United face a transfer battle against one of Europe's heavyweights
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag(Image credit: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Manchester United enjoyed a productive summer transfer window, bringing in five new first-team players, bolstering the club’s defence, midfield and attack.
The summer spree which saw almost £200million spent on Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte, came in response to last season’s eighth-placed finish, which was the club’s worst in the Premier League era.
The window also saw Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos team at the helm for the first time and was the first step in what is likely to be a significant rebuild at Old Trafford.
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With the window now closed, the regime will be looking ahead to their next targets, with a report in Spain claiming that the Red Devils could be about to compete with Real Madrid for one of Spain’s most promising young players.
Sevilla’s versatile right-back Juanlu Sanchez was a part of the Spain squad that won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics last month and according to AS, has caught the eye of Manchester United.
Able to operate further forward on the right and in the middle of the pitch, 21-year-old Sanchez has a reported €20million release clause and the Red Devils ‘will continue to monitor’ the player this season in La Liga, but so will European champions Real Madrid.
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Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti (Image credit: Getty Images)
Aware of this interest from two teams with deep pockets, Sevilla are believed to be wanting to negotiate a new contract with the player and that would include a higher release clause. Sanchez’s current deal expires in 2026.
In FourFourTwo’s opinion, Sanchez, who is valued at €15million by Transfermarkt, appears to be a promising talent. He is capped at Spain U21s level and is clearly piquing the interest of scouts, which is only likely to see his value go up, meaning Manchester United may want to make a decision on whether or not they step up their interest sooner, rather than later.
For more than a decade Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor, with stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others. He is the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team.
