- 7 hours ago
Five Man Utd targets to watch at Euro 2024
Manchester United have been linked with a host of top players ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window as they prepare for life under INEOS’ regime.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his team are now in charge of all football operations at Old Trafford, most notably transfer activity, and they are expected to spend big in a bid to restore Man Utd’s status at the top of English football.
With the summer window set to open next month, Man Utd will be eager to see several of their key transfer targets in action during the 2024 European Championship.
READ MORE: Premier League summer transfers 2024 - All the Done Deals
The tournament will provide the Red Devils with one final look at a number of their targets before deciding whether or not to pursue a move.
Below, FootballTransfers runs through five Man Utd targets to watch at Euro 2024.
READ MORE: Euro 2024 Draw - Groups, fixtures, knockouts, favourites
Jarrad Branthwaite (England)
Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite is yet to earn his first senior England cap, but he was included in Gareth Southgate’s 33-man preliminary squad and he is expected to be involved in the Three Lions’ final squad too.
Harry Maguire and John Stones will be England’s preferred pairing, but Branthwaite could play a role if injury strikes either of Southgate’s first-choice options.
The Everton star is unlikely to play a key role for England, but Man Utd will be keen to see how he performs if he is given a run out.
Amadou Onana (Belgium)
Branthwaite’s Everton team-mate Amadou Onana is one of Man Utd’s priority targets for the summer window, FootballTransfers understands, and a strong Euro 2024 campaign could boost his chances of sealing an Old Trafford move.
Onana excelled during a friendly against England in March and is likely to be included in Belgium’s first-choice starting XI, meaning he will be handed the perfect chance to put himself firmly in the shop window.
Man Utd will be watching closely and Onana will be crucial to Belgium’s hopes of progressing into the latter stages of Euro 2024.
Dani Olmo (Spain)
Dani Olmo has emerged as a Man Utd target in recent weeks and he is set to play a key role as Spain look to reclaim European Championship glory for the first time since 2012.
The RB Leipzig attacking midfielder is also being monitored by the likes of Chelsea, Barcelona and Manchester City, but Man Utd remain firmly in the hunt for his signature.
Olmo performed well at Euro 2020, providing three assists as Spain reached the semi-final, and another positive showing could convince the Red Devils to sign him.
Joao Neves (Portugal)
Joao Neves broke into the Benfica first-team following Enzo Fernandez’s big-money move to Chelsea in January 2023 and the Portuguese wonderkid could follow in Fernandez’s footsteps by sealing a Premier League transfer after an impressive major tournament.
Neves is unlikely to start for Portugal, but he is one of their most exciting young talents and Roberto Martinez may opt to slowly embed the teenager into his preferred XI at Euro 2024.
Man Utd are currently more interested in the aforementioned Onana, but a move for Neves could happen if he performs well at the tournament.
Eberechi Eze (England)
Eberechi Eze may be dropped from England’s final squad for Euro 2024, but the Crystal Palace man deserves to be included following a fantastic season at Selhurst Park.
Man Utd are reportedly targeting a move for the Englishman, along with his team-mate Michael Olise, and the Red Devils will be eager for Southgate to include Eze in order for them to scout him further.
He contributed 11 goals and four assists in 27 Premier League appearances last season and would be an excellent option to bring off the bench in Germany.