'Proud' manager admits €35m Man Utd signing is on

Updated: 15 Aug 2026 13:52 BST | 4 min read

Tom Weber | Writer

Multilingual sports writer who specialises in European football and American soccer.

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Club Brugge manager Ivan Leko has admitted that he is "proud" that Joaquin Seys is being linked with a potential transfer to Manchester United.

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One of the Red Devils' main priorities in the remaining weeks of the window is to sort out their left-back position. With Luke Shaw on the wrong side of 30 and having a less-than-stellar injury record, and Patrick Dorgu impressing as a forward, Man Utd need to bolster their options.

Their top target all summer has been Newcastle defender Lewis Hall, but a deal looks nigh on impossible at this stage. The Magpies have lost three key players already, and they have no intention of sanctioning any more major exits.

Current ETV

Joaquin Seys

D (L)

Brugge

Joaquin Seys

D (L)

Brugge

ETV Range

€14.8M - €18.1M

Newcastle have repeatedly made it clear that the England starlet is not for sale this summer, despite some reports that the 21-year-old is looking to leave the club and take the next step in his career.

Man Utd have seemingly resigned themselves to the fact that they won't get their hands on Hall anytime soon. There have been links with numerous potential alternatives, among them Seys.

Brugge will sell Seys if the price is right

The 21-year-old has already racked up six senior appearances for Belgium, including a 30-minute cameo against eventual champions Spain at this summer's World Cup.

Seys was a crucial part of the Club Brugge side that won the Jupiler Pro League last season, contributing two goals and five assists across the regular season and playoffs. All told, the youngster played 55 games last term.

© IMAGO - Nicolo Tresoldi and Joaquin Seys

Brugge have already sold superstar winger Christos Tzolis to Arsenal, so they are reticent to lose more key performers such as striker Nicolo Tresoldi and Seys. Recent reports have suggested that Man Utd may have to shell out as much as €35 million to sign the left-back.

It is unclear whether they are prepared to do so given that Seys currently has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of just €16.5m. The defender still has three years remaining on his contract.

When quizzed about the interest in players like Seys and Tresoldi, Brugge boss Ivan Leko admitted that links with clubs like Man Utd, Arsenal and Barcelona fill him with pride. "I’m proud that my guys are being linked to those clubs," he said.

"We chat about it every now and then. How many of those rumours are true? I don’t know. But we all have eyes in our heads: their potential is incredible. On the other hand, they remain consummate professionals and are happy here."

While Brugge are in a secure financial position due to lucrative sales such as the one that took Tzolis to Arsenal, Leko conceded that they do remain a stepping-stone club and would be prepared to do business for Seys and Tresoldi if the price is right.

"If there’s a lot of money on the table, it’s obviously not easy to say no," the coach confessed. "The board’s aim is still to build a team that’s even better than last season. The right time to leave will come. Tzolis has proved that. Let’s hope they’re all still here in September."