Kim all over again! Ten Hag faces frustration over star Man Utd have chased ‘for weeks’

Robin Bairner

• 10 Jul 2023 06:44 BST
• 3 min read

Manchester United’s prospects of landing centre-back Axel Disasi from Monaco have been hurt with the emergence of another threat in the transfer race.

Erik ten Hag’s side have struggled to get deals over the line this summer, with the Red Devils having only secured a move for Chelsea’s Mason Mount so far, although there is optimism that goalkeeper Andre Onana will arrive from Inter after David de Gea left the club.

Centre-back, though, was a position that Ten Hag was prioritising coming into the transfer window, with the Dutch manager eager to land at least one more player in that role.

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Napoli’s Kim Min-jae had been United’s primary target, but they were beaten to the South Korea international by Bayern Munich after it appeared certain that he would be moving to the Red Devils.

Now the Old Trafford side are faced with a similar threat from Newcastle over Disasi.

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Newcastle rival Man United for Disasi – Fabrizio Romano

According to Fabrizio Romano, Ten Hag has already given the green light for Man Utd to move for the four-time France international, who can play both as a central defender or on the right of the rearguard.

Indeed, the football transfer news expert reports that United have been in contact with the 25-year-old Disasi “for weeks”.

Newcastle, though, are threatening to beat their Champions League rivals to the player.

Romano reports that Eddie Howe’s men have approached the player this week and will soon make contact with Monaco – a step that Man Utd, who have been paralysed by a takeover process that is proving far more drawn out than expected, have yet to make.

Disasi has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €25 million although it is expected to cost around €40-50m to tempt Monaco into a sale.

Meanwhile, the Ligue 1 club have targeted Southampton’s Armel Bella-Kotchap as Disasi’s replacement should Man Utd or Newcastle make a successful transfer bid.