Manchester United are reportedly preparing to join the race to sign a Chelsea player who starred during last season’s run-in.
Manchester United are reportedly preparing to make a formal approach for Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah.
Despite the initial frustration from the club’s fanbase over new additions, United supporters have recently been rewarded for their patience with two major additions.
Forward Joshua Zirkzee joined from Bologna once he had finished representing Netherlands at Euro 2024, before Lille teenager Leny Yoro arrived in a deal that could eventually reach £58.9m.
However, INEOS-backed United are far from finished in the transfer market, with making a change at right-back seemingly the next task on their agenda.
Bayern Munich’s Noussair Mazraoui could be making the move to Old Trafford over the coming days, perceived to be a replacement for Aaron Wan-Bissaka who has interest from home and abroad.
Nevertheless, another centre-back is said to be a priority of United’s, too, which has seemingly resulted in Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co turning to Chalobah.
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United join race for Chalobah
According to Football Insider, the Red Devils are ready to join the race with several Premier League clubs to sign the 25-year-old.
Chalobah had spent the opening two weeks of Enzo Maresca‘s reign training with the rest of the senior squad before he was surprisingly left out of the 28-player squad for the pre-season tour of the United States.
Maresca has since confirmed that Chalobah’s situation is “quite clear”, the academy graduate being made available for transfer rather than given the chance to build on his outstanding form at the back end of 2023-24.
In the 10 Premier League fixtures that Chalobah started, Chelsea did not lose a single game and accumulated a total of 24 points, subsequently seeing them claim sixth place in the standings and a spot in the Europa Conference League.
Co-owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital are of the opinion that they would rather generate a substantial fee for Chalobah over keeping him in Maresca’s squad.
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Versatility the key trait
Chalobah has made his name as a centre-back, whether that be in a two or on the right-hand side of a back three, particularly under Thomas Tuchel.
However, in four of Chelsea’s final six top-flight fixtures last season, Chalobah lined up at right-back, including in wins over West Ham United, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth.
United are said to be attracted by Chalobah having the credentials to deputise in that position when required, with Diogo Dalot sometimes having to switch to the left.
Chalobah is currently weighing up his options ahead of the new campaign having initially been determined to fight for his place at Stamford Bridge.