Man Utd hold shock ‘talks’ to bring in relegated Leeds star with £80m man set for crucial ‘meeting’
According to rumours, Manchester United are interested in signing Leeds defender Robin Koch this summer and have put him to their wishlist.
The German center-back spent three seasons in the Premier League with Leeds before the Yorkshire club was relegated to the Championship on the final day of the 2022/23 season.
And it now appears that he will leave Leeds this summer in order to stay at the highest level, with Newcastle, Arsenal, and Chelsea all reportedly keen.
Newcastle intended to attack Leeds, according to a report in 90min last week, with Brenden Aaronson, Tyler Adams, Jack Harrison, and Koch all on their radar.
However, Koch could now make the contentious transfer to Manchester United, according to Sky Sports Germany writer Florian Plettenberg, who claims that the Red Devils have added him to their shortlist.
Plettenberg adds that he has ‘verified’ that ‘loose negotiations’ have taken place as Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag seeks to bolster his backline.
England international Harry Maguire, who joined the Red Devils for £80 million in 2019, looks ready to leave this summer, with speculations that Victor Lindelof may also go in search of regular first-team play.
When both are fit, Ten Hag’s preferred center-back partnership is Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, with Tottenham and other Premier League clubs connected to Maguire.
According to CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs, Maguire will have a “meeting” with the club to see whether his future lies away from Old Trafford.
“We have to wait and see what Ten Hag wants to do with the player, it’s the same with Maguire, they’re going to have a meeting to see whether or not they will move forward with Maguire,” Jacobs said on The Done Deal Show.
“Ten Hag will inform Maguire that he is falling down the pecking order, and Maguire will then have to understand his role in the team or leave.” Finally, he’s a likely exit, and that one has credence.”
Former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore has advised Maguire not to consider a move to Tottenham amid high expectations for the club’s performance next season.
“I’m not sure about Maguire and Spurs,” Collymore told Caught Offside. Maguire has name recognition and is a very excellent defender, therefore I believe they do need central defenders. He needs a new start and must quit Manchester United because he is contaminated goods there.
“Perhaps Ange Postecoglou, in terms of character, is the man to get inside his head.” Villa has been mentioned as being interested, which I believe would be a somewhat better move for Maguire.
“Unai Emery is a more experienced coach at the highest level.” Villa, I believe, requires a central defender just as badly as Spurs. If Ange doesn’t get off to a strong start, the toxicity around the club would be the last thing Maguire needs, because Villa now has a feel-good element.
“He can contribute in the Conference League, and Villa is a forward-thinking, upwardly mobile, happy place.”
“In the worst-case scenario, he’ll move from Manchester United, where he’s been viewed as the root cause of all the team’s problems, to Tottenham, where if it doesn’t happen in Postecoglou’s first 12 games, there’ll be the ENIC out/Levy out brigade.” I simply believe Villa will be better for him as a player and as a person.”
