Man Utd ‘one step’ away from SURPRISE summer signing

Robin Bairner

• 8 Jun 2023 07:17 BST
• 3 min read

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is close to completing his first transfer of the summer, though the deal that is reportedly nearly done comes something out of left field.

Man Utd have been closely linked with a string of attacking players in recent weeks, including Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen, while they have also been strongly associated with Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount and Napoli centre-back Kim Min-jae.

Instead, though, their first deal of the summer transfer window could well be for France international defender Axel Disasi, with L’Equipe reporting that the Red Devils are just “one step” away from completing a move for the Monaco man.

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Primarily a centre-back, Disasi is also capable of playing as a right-back. This is a profile of player that Ten Hag is known to be seeking, with Ajax’s Jurrien Timber considered for the same role.

United have been linked with the 25-year-old previously, though that interest appeared to have died down. L’Equipe reports, though, that contact remains between the player’s entourage and the Old Trafford side since January.

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Monaco's asking price for Disasi revealed

All that remains for the deal to be concluded is terms on the transfer to be agreed between Man Utd and Monaco.

This could prove to be a rather taxing step given the trouble that the Premier League side have had securing Mount in similar circumstances in recent weeks, an issue caused largely by the uncertainty of who will own the club at the start of next season.

Monaco are aiming to secure €40-50 million for a player who has three France caps and who featured in the World Cup final. His club are said to be willing to sell him and indeed have started to plan for next season without him and his France teammate Youssouf Fofana. These sales are expected to balance their budget deficit.

FootballTransfers gives Disasi an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €25m, suggesting that the fee they are asking Man Utd to pay for the former Reims defender is a little over the odds