Manchester United ‘to make’ £65m swoop for Crystal Palace ace as club hits out at transfer claim

Erik ten Hag, manager of Manchester United
Erik ten Hag, manager of Manchester United -Credit:James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images


Manchester United are thought to be considering a move for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi in their hunt for new centre-backs.

United are looking for two central defenders this summer with Raphael Varane set to leave after the FA Cup final and Jonny Evans currently seeing his contract expire next month. The club are expected to seek younger talents to balance out the age of the defence.

Both Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof will be north of 30 by the start of next season while Willy Kambwala is not 20 until August. Lisandro Martinez dissects the age range at 26.

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Guehi, 23, is tipped for a bright future and has been selected for England’s provisional training squad ahead of this summer’s European Championships. The Daily Mail says United are admirers of the defender, who is being rated at £65m.

United, it adds, are mulling over the possibility of ultimately approaching Palace for his signature. The club have meanwhile outlined Everton talent Jarrad Branthwaite, 21, and Bayer Leverkusen invincible Edmond Tapsoba, 25, as targets of interest.

The report claims United are also interested in Guehi’s Palace teammate Michael Olise, as well as RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko and Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo, who becomes a free agent this summer.

Elsewhere, Turkish outfit Trabzonspor have released a statement to squash rumours that they hold an interest in United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir. The Turkey international has played just once since arriving at Old Trafford last year and could be let go this summer.

Links with a return to the Super Lig have started to circulate as a result, and the former Fenerbahce shot-stopper - who cost United £4.3m and is contracted until 2027 - has been connected with Trabzonspor. However the club have poured cold water over the speculation.

The statement said: “The news in the national and local press regarding the transfer of professional football player Altay Bayındır to our club does not reflect the truth. Our club does not have any work regarding the player in question.”