Borussia Dortmund star Manuel Akanji has an ‘offer from Manchester United’ on the table, according to reports.
The 26-year-old has been tipped to move to Old Trafford amid Harry Maguire’s struggles at the back this term.
And any deal that would see him leave Dortmund for the Premier League would, potentially, spell trouble for Maguire and his prospects of staying in the team.
United have struggled with consistent centre-backs ever since the departures of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic in 2014 to Queens Park Rangers and Inter Milan respectively.
And that remains the case all these years on.
When United shelled out a huge £80million for Maguire nearly three years ago, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was adamant he was onto a winner.
Yet the former Leicester star has struggled to live up to both expectations and his price tag during his time at Old Trafford.
Some even believe Victor Lindelof and Raphael Varane represent the club’s best centre-back pairing as they look to salvage their season.
And with the summer transfer window edging closer, BILD claim that Akanji has an ‘offer from United’ on the table.Should the 26-yea-old move to the Premier League giants, then it’s feasible Maguire will be the fall guy.
United believe the best is yet to come from Varane, who joined from Real Madrid last summer for a fee of £40m.
And Akanji and the France international may be able to strike up a strong rapport providing the Dortmund star signs on the dotted line.
Dortmund, for their part, are said to be looking at potential replacements for the Switzerland international.
Manchester City and Chelsea, however, are expected to rival United for the England international’s signature.
Up top, the Red Devils want to sign a young forward amid uncertainty over the futures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani.
And they’ve consequently been tipped to go after the likes of Harry Kane and Alexander Isak, who are currently in form at Tottenham and Real Sociedad respectively.
Meanwhile, regarding Maguire, Paul Parker thinks the 28-year-old may be sold at the end of the season.
“If United, in my opinion, were to get somewhere near to their money back on Harry Maguire, I think they’ll have to think about it,” he told Express Sport.
“I think [Victor] Lindelof and [Raphael] Varane, you know, they could build something on there maybe, in a mode of what they’re looking for and where the club wants to be.
“You’re talking about players who are definitely more agile, a little bit quicker, better defenders in one against one situations and I think you have to look at it that way.
