Man Utd in January battle with PSG for bargain Skriniar

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 28 Jan 2023 14:37 GMT
• 3 min read

PSG had a verbal agreement with Martin Skriniar to sign him on a free transfer from Inter Milan at the end of the season, but Manchester United have thrown a spanner in the works according to reports in France.

Skriniar has been a central defensive stalwart at Inter for seven seasons, and the Serie A giants are desperate to keep him at the San Siro, but he has refused to discuss terms on an extension to his current deal which expires in June.

Paris was thought to be the Slovak's favoured destination, but they may have to pay up to secure his services in the winter transfer window with Manchester United entering the race for his signature.

READ: Milan Skriniar: The fee Inter will accept in January for PSG target

Man Utd hijack?

"PSG want to ensure the arrival of the defender on a free in July 2023," report l'Equipe. "This is almost a given with the Slovak verbally agreeing to the move. But the 27-year-old hasn't yet signed and Paris prefer to guard against a possible hi-jack, potentially from Manchester United, in January.

"Now Paris want to sign him this winter. An offer of €10-15m should be lodged in the final days of the transfer window, but this could be revised up to €30m [in light of the competition]."

Skriniar is valued at €31.1m by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm, so Skriniar's likely asking price is well within the budgets of PSG and Man Utd.

READ: Ten Hag reveals £75,000-per-week star hasn't completed ONE training session

Who needs him more is questionable. Presnel Kimpembe's nose was put out of joint last week when Kylian Mbappe was promoted PSG vice-captain without his being told in advance by manager Christophe Galtier.

Harry Maguire's travails at United this season have been well documented, meanwhile, and the player was recently spotted in a restaurant near Aston Villa's training ground alongside his agent.

Both clubs could use another centre-back at a budget-friendly price. Now to see if Skriniar goes back on his word…