Real Madrid give ‘OK’ to Man Utd as Ten Hag closes in on Arsenal target he’s ‘obsessed’ with

The Red Devils are on the lookout for a new center-back this summer, with reports claiming Harry Maguire will leave before the end of the transfer season.

Mason Mount and Andre Onana have already joined from Chelsea and Inter Milan, respectively, with Atalanta attacker Rasmus Hojlund considered to be Erik ten Hag’s next target.

After that, rumors indicate that Manchester United will try to sign another midfielder and a center-back before the transfer season closes.

Kim Min-Jae was allegedly one of their top targets at center-back, but the South Korean international has now joined Bayern Munich on a five-year deal from Napoli.

And the Spanish newspaper Nacional is now reporting that former Bayern Munich defender Alaba, who can play at center-back, left-back, or even midfield, is on his way to Old Trafford.

According to the source, Real Madrid has nodded ‘OK’ to Manchester United for Alaba, with the Austrian international set to ‘end up accepting the offer’ from the Premier League club.

Alaba is currently ‘in negotiations’ with Manchester United, according to Nacional, and Ten Hag is ‘crazy with him and wants to have him under his supervision’ at Old Trafford.

And Manchester United are willing to “make a very significant investment” to get him to leave Real Madrid this summer, while Los Blancos have “already begun to prepare in case” he does.

The reports come after the same source claimed that Arsenal were planning an offer for the versatile defender last week in an attempt to ‘convince Florentino Perez to open the doors for the Red Devils.

Alaba does want to play in the Premier League, according to the source, and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is ‘confident that he can strike an agreement’.

They may be battling for players in the transfer market, but Man Utd manager Ten Hag also met Arsenal in a pre-season friendly over the weekend, with the Red Devils winning 2-0.

Ten Hag was pleased with his team’s performance, telling reporters, “I think it’s very good.” I was pretty delighted with how active we were in and out of possession.

“That is how we want to play, and it is the only time of year when you can really work in training and translate it to games without consequences.”

“But we still want to win, and I think the lads demonstrated that we played a good game.”

“Of course, they’re all fantastic games.” We have to go, and it helps us improve, especially because our opponents are good.

“Arsenal is a tough opponent. They were really good in the Premier League last season, so yeah, that’s nice to match with them, then you’ll be better.”