Who Man Utd will sign to replace Harry Maguire

Stuart Telford

• 13 Apr 2023 19:56 BST
• 3 min read

Manchester United have had "positive talks" with Monaco's Axel Disasi with Harry Maguire's future at the club looking uncertain.

A busy summer of transfers is expected at Old Trafford with Erik ten Hag set to further put his stamp on the Red Devils.

A No.9 - Harry Kane, Victor Osimhen or another - is a priority, while a box-to-box midfielder and right-back is also required, according to recent reports.

READ: Why Mane's punch-up with Sane is the perfect opportunity for Man Utd

But another centre-back will likely also be needed, with strength in depth behind Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez getting thinner.

Eric Bailly has no future at the club after his unsuccessful loan to Marseille, Victor Lindelof has been linked with a move to Inter Milan, while club captain Maguire has only made six Premier League starts under Ten Hag.

Should Maguire leave, as is widely expected, another centre-back would be needed, and Monaco's recent France international Disasi could fit the bill.

READ: Maguire decides Man Utd future

'Positive conversations'

"He's a different sort of player, but Axel Disasi could be viewed as Patrice Evra Mark II if he was to come from the same Monaco pathway," transfer reporter Dean Jones told GiveMeSport.

"His ceiling is high, he has as a similar age to Evra when he first arrived at the club, and I'm told the initial conversations over the past couple of months have been pretty positive around this one."

Disasi is valued at €25.8 million by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm, so United would likely get him for well inside any fee they can expect for the €29.8m-rated Maguire.

Disasi has won an average of three aerial challenges per game over the last year in Ligue 1, but also five progressive passes, making him an asset on both sides of the ball.

He won his first France cap at recent winter World Cup in Qatar, and would find compatriots Varane and Anthony Martial at Old Trafford, should be make the move.