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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is targeting RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano to bolster his defensive options at Manchester United, sources told ESPN, after sealing a deal to make Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek his first major signing this summer. .
Dutch international Van de Beek is expected to complete a £ 40 million move to Old Trafford this week after agreeing to terms with Ajax over the weekend. United has been chasing the 23-year-old since January.
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But with United continuing to make slow progress in their attempts to hit Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho priority target due to salary demands from the England winger and his representatives, United manager Solskjaer wants to step up efforts to boost his team before the team’s first Premier League game. against Crystal Palace on September 19.
Sources have told ESPN that Solskjaer is now prioritizing bringing in a high-quality center midfield to play alongside captain Harry Maguire and that Upamecano is the primary target.
The 21-year-old impressed during Leipzig’s run to the Champions League semi-finals in Lisbon earlier this month after having signed a contract extension until June 2023.
He was due to be out of contract in June 2021, a deal that included a € 60 million release clause, but despite compromising his future with Julien Nagelsmann’s team, reports in Germany claim that the new deal includes a clause. release of 42 million euros. , which can be activated at the end of the 2020-21 season.
However, Solskjaer wants to recruit during this window, and sources have told ESPN that there is a belief that a deal with Leipzig could be reached before the October 5 transfer deadline.
United are hoping to shed several of their defenders during the transfer window, with Marcos Rojo, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones heading for the starting gate at Old Trafford.
But with Solskjaer also concerned about the reliability of Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof, and the fitness record of young Axel Tuanzebe, the signing of a new central midfielder has become even more important.
