Man Utd fight Serie A giants for ‘new option’ as Ten Hag ‘considers’ ex-Arsenal man as ‘alternative’ | OneFootball

According to reports, Man Utd have joined the race to sign Greece international Konstantinos Mavropanos from Bundesliga outfit VfB Stuttgart.

One of United’s transfer priorities ahead of this summer is to sign a new centre-back. Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane have formed a great partnership this season but Erik ten Hag wants more strength in depth in that area of the pitch.

Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw have filled in at centre-back at times this season but Ten Hag is expected to overhaul his squad this summer.

Napoli’s Kim-Min Jae – who is also being considered by Liverpool and Man City – is understood to be among United’s main defensive targets.

The South Korea has been in stunning form this season for the Serie A leaders. He is attracting the interest of Premier League clubs and there is a £53m release clause in his contract.

Yet Spanish outlet Fichajes point out that United are also ‘considering alternatives’. Stuttgart defender Mavropanos is understood to be a ‘new option’ for the Premier League giants.

The 25-year-old had a spell at Arsenal earlier in his career but he only made eight appearances for them. After two separate loan spells at Stuttgart, his move to the Bundesliga outfit was made permanent last summer.

Stuttgart are currently in the thick of a relegation battle in the Bundesliga but Mavropanos has been one of their better performers. He has played 30 times across all competitions.

The report claims ‘Man Utd have set their sights on Mavropanos’ but ‘Inter Milan and other Premier League clubs are also considering signing him’.

Mavropanos has emerged as one ‘alternative’ to Min-Jae, who remains the ‘great desire’ of Ten Hag and Man Utd.

The Red Devils have ‘already established the first contacts’ with the defender, who is also being looked at by Fulham and Wolves.

While Mavropanos or Min-Jae may be heading to Man Utd, Maguire looks likely to leave so he can rebuild his career elsewhere.

Club legend Jaap Stam thinks Maguire needs to move on this summer as he “needs to play”.

“If I was Maguire, looking at him and how it’s working out for him, or how it’s going this season, I would have said [he should leave], and I think that’s best for him as well because he needs to play,” Stam said.

“You’re at a certain age that you want to play, you need to play football. It seems like Ten Hag doesn’t always believe in Maguire. I think the best thing to do is to go somewhere where you can play week in, week out.”