Man Utd and Arsenal on red alert after sporting director confirms "world-class" player is available for free

Manchester United and Arsenal are on red alert after the Borussia Monchengladbach sporting director announced Marcus Thuram would leave in the summer for free.

There had reportedly been interest in Thuram in January from United, Arsenal and Chelsea after Gladbach slapped an £8million price tag on the France international.

At the time United had allegedly identified the 25-year-old as a viable replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo, who had acrimoniously left the club in November.

Meanwhile table toppers Arsenal were allegedly keen on the move after their £45million summer signing Gabriel Jesus suffered a long-term injury at the World Cup.

While neither transfer materialised at the time, both clubs have the opportunity to sign Thuram on a free transfer at the end of the season.

Thuram to leave Gladbach for free

Thuram will leave Gladbach as a free agent in the summer after the Bundesliga side failed to tie the 25-year-old to a new deal.

Gladbach missed their final chance of receiving a transfer fee for the striker in January, with the player’s contract set to expire at the end of the season.

Indeed, The club’s sporting director Roland Virkus has admitted Thuram will look to go to a “bigger club” when he leaves Borussia-Park.

Speaking to Sport1, Virkus said: “We’ve decided to allow Thuram to leave. The fact he will leave on a free is not a positive situation. I can’t sugarcoat it.

“We have to accept that there are bigger clubs he might move to.”

Thuram, who was last year described as "world-class" by Wolfsburg sporting director Marcel Schafer, is Gladbach’s talisman. He has netted 14 goals in 22 appearances for the club so far this season.

He was also a part of France’s World Cup squad, making five appearances in Qatar as Les Bleus finished as runners-up to Argentina.