Roland Cutinho
Man United looking to raid the 14-time Champions League winners by signing another crucial player
According to a report by El Nacional, Manchester United are currently in the process of negotiating a deal to sign Real Madrid defender David Alaba.
Alaba joined Real Madrid after his contract with Bayern Munich expired in July 2021. Since then, he has represented the club in 85 matches, contributing five goals and seven assists.
During the 2022-23 season, the 31-year-old remained an essential player for the Spanish giants under the management of Carlo Ancelotti.
However, he faced some fitness problems, which led to him featuring in 39 matches across all competitions, with only 23 appearances in La Liga.
Alaba is under contract with Real Madrid until June 2026, giving the club a strong position regarding his future. Nonetheless, there are current speculations suggesting a potential summer departure for the Austrian defender.
According to El Nacional, United are showing strong interest in signing the Austrian star, and their head coach Erik ten Hag is reportedly very keen on the defender.
But a move could only happen if the Red Devils were to make an offer of €50 million (£42.9 million) for the former Bayern defender.
During his time at the Bernabeu, Alaba has already achieved significant success, winning six trophies, including La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League.
He had a highly successful career at Bayern Munich, winning 10 Bundesliga titles and two Champions League trophies during his time there.
At present, Madrid have three players competing for the two starting positions in central defence, namely Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao alongside Alaba.
On the other hand, Man United’s preferred centre-back duo is Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, both of whom have returned to full fitness after injuries in the latter part of the previous season.
They are likely to be Ten Hag’s first-choice centre-back pairing, with Victor Lindelof also staying at the club ahead of the upcoming season.
Harry Maguire, who had limited starts in the Premier League last season, might continue to struggle for regular playing time if he remains with the team. He was recently stripped of his captain’s armband.
Axel Tuanzebe and Phil Jones have already left the club, while Eric Bailly is not part of Ten Hag’s plans for the upcoming season and is expected to depart, potentially joining other high-profile players in moving to Saudi Arabia.
Real Madrid are demanding a substantial fee of €50m for Alaba, which United could potentially afford towards the end of the transfer window if other conditions align.
Whether a move for the centre-back materialises depends on Maguire’s status at Old Trafford. If Maguire stays, a transfer seems unlikely.
However, if United can secure a good transfer fee for the English star, a move for Alaba could become a possibility.
The Red Devils have been successful in raiding the Spanish giants and signing their top players like Varane and Casemiro. Hence, Alaba could be another important player to join the English outfit.
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As of now, it’s important not to jump to conclusions. The situation remains uncertain, and further developments may arise in the upcoming weeks.
