Manchester United have reportedly enquired about PSG’s Leandro Parades, according to a report from France.
With Manchester United losing multiple midfielders this summer, most namely Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic, multiple midfielders are needed this window.
The club are currently targeting one man in particular – Frenkie de Jong – however the latest reports still suggest that he does not want to leave Barcelona, despite them owing him around £17 million in deferred wages.
With the De Jong deal dragging on, the club have reportedly turned their attention to PSG’s 28-year-old defensive midfielder Leandro Parades as Erik ten Hag continues to try and strengthen his midfield.
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The Argentine midfielder signed for the French outfit for a fee of £36 million back in 2019, and has played a total of 119 games for the club during his three seasons there.
He has previously played for AS Roma, FC Empoli and Zenit St. Petersberg, as well as Argentinian side Boca Juniors, where his performances for the club originally earned him a move to Europe.
However, according to the report from L’Equipe (via Get French Football News), talks are complicated due to the Parisian’s asking price.
Parades only has two years left on his current contract which expires in 2024, but PSG are still demanding €35 million for the player’s services, which is more than Manchester United are willing to pay.
In terms of non-attacking midfielders, the club currently only have Fred and Scott McTominay as established first team players, with James Garner being the current back-up option to the two; and James Garner has spent the last two seasons on loan to Watford and Nottingham Forest.
As mentioned previously, the departures of Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic have left a gaping hole in the midfield, and Parades may be the option to partly fill that gap, but with Manchester United aiming to complete at least five signings this window, being incredibly smart on price is necessary.
The club have already completed the signing of full-back Tyrell Malacia for a fee of around €15 million on a 4-year contract, and are also set to complete the signing of Christian Eriksen on a free contract after the player verbally agreed to sign with the Red Devils.
Another player who is looking increasingly likely to join is current Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez, nicknamed “The Butcher of Amsterdam”, with the club already submitting two bids for the player.
Although Ajax are yet to accept either bid, Martinez has reportedly made it clear that he has every intention to move to the Old Trafford club, and may refuse to train should the club continue to refuse to strike a deal.
Frenkie de Jong’s potential move is becoming increasingly complicated, with a move more likely arising from Barcelona’s need to sell rather than the player’s willingness to leave the club.
The club have just flown to Bangkok to start their pre-season tour with a match against Liverpool in the city, and plan to fly to Australia after to face Melbourne Victory, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa as Erik ten Hag gears up for a first season in English football.
The tour will conclude with two European fixtures, first in Oslo against Atletico Madrid on 30 July, before a second against Rayo Vallecano at Old Trafford the following day rounds off ‘Tour 2022’.
The Premier League season then gets underway, with Brighton & Hove Albion visiting Old Trafford on 7 August.
Topics: Manchester United, Manchester United Transfer News & Rumours, Erik Ten Hag, Paris Saint-Germain, Football, Transfers
Dylan Penketh