Man Utd draw up defender shortlist including Bayern centre-back Upamecano

United target three defenders

Manchester United have three central defenders in mind when they look to reinforce this summer.

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United target three defenders Real Madrid expect to land Mbappe Silva set to leave Chelsea De Zerbi considers Brighton exit

The Sun reports that Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano, Benfica’s Antonio Silva and Jean-Clair Todibo of Nice are all under consideration.

“Manchester United have drawn-up a three-man shortlist of centre-backs ahead of the summer transfer window,” the paper claims.

“New partial owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe will look to revolutionise The Red Devils’ squad ahead of next season.

“United are interested in Bayern Munich star Dayot Upamecano.

“The 25-year-old has tumbled down the pecking order of late, falling behind former Tottenham star Eric Dier.

“Also on United’s list is Upamecano’s French compatriot Jean-Clair Todibo.

“The third defender on United’s radar is Benfica’s Antonio Silva.”

Real Madrid expect to land Mbappe

Spanish newspaper Marca confirms that Real Madrid are expected to sign Kylian Mbappe on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain this summer.

The Frenchman’s deal has long been rumoured, but is yet to be announced.

The paper discusses that Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr. and Endrick are just part of Real’s plans, saying: “These three Brazilians, initially signed by Real Madrid as promising talents in their homeland, with very little first-team experience at the time, will bolster the team’s attacking arsenal from July 2024. But they won’t be alone. Their primary accomplice will be Jude Bellingham.

“Additionally, the arrivals of Brahim, Joselu, Arda Guler, and possibly Kylian Mbappe will further fortify Madrid’s offensive capabilities. While Mbappe has yet to confirm his future club, many anticipate his move to Real Madrid after the French forward confirmed he would be leaving Paris Saint-Germain.

“With the potential additions of Mbappe and Endrick, Real Madrid’s attack promises to soar to new heights, potentially uniting the Brazilian prodigy with the world’s best player.”

Silva set to leave Chelsea

The Mirror believes that Chelsea’s Brazilian veteran defender Thiago Silva will leave at the end of the season.

The 39-year-old will come to the end of his contract and there have been no suggestions that talks will take place.

The paper states: “Thiago Silva is expected to leave Chelsea at the end of the season upon the expiry of his contract – ending his four-year stay at Stamford Bridge.

“The Brazilian veteran, 39, joined The Blues in the summer of 2020 and won the Champions League in his debut season under Thomas Tuchel, establishing himself as a firm fan favourite in west London.

“However, there have been no formal talks over a contract extension to date and sources have now indicated that barring a significant U-turn, Silva is poised to depart on a free transfer when his current deal is up. It’s no secret that former club Fluminense have been working tirelessly on a move to bring the former PSG captain home.

“Fluminense’s president Mario Bittencourt revealed earlier this week that he remains in close contact with the experienced Brazil international and that he has made it abundantly clear the door is wide open for an emotional return.”

De Zerbi considers Brighton exit

The Telegraph reports that Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi has no plans to sign a new contract with the club.

The paper explains that the Italian is linked with Liverpool and Bayern Munich as both sides look for a new manager.

“Roberto De Zerbi has cast doubt on his Brighton future amid expected interest from Liverpool, revealing that he wants talks with owner Tony Bloom after not agreeing a new contract,” the paper notes.

“With vacancies this summer at Liverpool and Bayern Munich, De Zerbi’s situation is being closely monitored and the Italian very noticeably admitted that the “problem” in his Brighton talks would be to find the same long-term vision.

“De Zerbi, who replaced Graham Potter in 2022, has a contract until 2026 at Brighton, where he has established himself as one of the best young managers in Europe after leading the club into Europe with a sixth-placed finish.

“However, when asked if he could sign a new contract at Brighton, De Zerbi gave a strikingly uncertain answer. ‘At the moment, no,’ he said ahead of Sunday’s match against Liverpool. ‘We didn’t find the agreement. The contract is a part of the future. It’s important for me, it’s important for everyone but it’s a small part, the big part is the plan.’”