Goretzka to Man Utd: Surprise deal only makes sense on ONE condition

Tom Weber

Updated: 14 Jun 2024 15:57 BST
3 min read

Manchester United are interested in Leon Goretzka.

Article continues under the video

FootballTransfers exclusively revealed on Thursday that the Red Devils have added Bayern Munich midfielder Goretzka to their list of potential summer targets.

This comes after it was revealed that the 29-year-old has been earmarked as a candidate to get sold this summer, with Bayern desperate to raise funds to provide Vincent Kompany with some big-name signings.

Given his age, Goretzka is not a top target for Man Utd, but there is an acceptance that his experience could prove invaluable for the development of young Kobbie Mainoo, with his current midfield partner, Casemiro, likely to depart Old Trafford this summer.

Goretzka had a strange 2023/24 season. He struggled to perform consistently under Thomas Tuchel in the early stages of the campaign, which eventually led to him being excluded from Julian Nagelsmann's Germany squad for the March international break.

Off the back of this snub, Goretzka got his act together and massively improved. In fact, his performances towards the end of the campaign were so impressive that it came as quite a surprise that Nagelsmann decided to omit the midfielder from his Euro 2024 squad - even after Bayern teammate Aleksandar Pavlovic was forced to depart due to illness.

STATS

Leon Goretzka

DM (RL), M (C)

Bayern

Leon Goretzka

DM (RL), M (C)

Bayern

42

Games
6

Goals
11

Assists

Still life in old bones

Goretzka's late-season showings proved that there is still a good player in there. This could be quite useful to Man Utd, who, it must be said, have lacked good players in recent times.

Indeed, data experts SciSports agree that Goretzka would be a solid addition to this Red Devils side. In terms of current ability, the German ranks tenth when compared to Man Utd's stars, ahead of the likes of Mason Mount, Sofyan Amrabat and young Mainoo.

Reports in Germany suggest that Goretzka is happy to dig his heels in and see out his Bayern contract, which still runs until 2026. If the player doesn't want to leave, the Bavarians can do little about it.

However, if Man Utd come knocking, it may prove an opportunity too good to pass up, also because the Red Devils are likely one of the few clubs willing to take a risk on him.

Goretzka is too expensive for most German sides and those that could afford him are unlikely to sign him. The midfielder is a boyhood VfL Bochum fan and a former Schalke player, so a move to Borussia Dortmund is out of the question.

Bayer Leverkusen have just signed Aleix Garcia and are stacked in midfield. RB Leipzig don't target players like Goretzka. So the former German international will either stay at Bayern or head abroad.

The major issue could be his price. We understand that Man Utd value Goretzka at roughly €40m, while it is not yet clear how much Bayern would demand for him. However, United would be foolish to make a move at €40m.

FootballTransfers' in-house Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) algorithm rates Goretzka at just short of €24m, so Man Utd would massively overpay for the midfielder. This, then, is the main point.

Goretzka could be a smart reinforcement for the Red Devils, but on the sole condition that Man Utd actually get a good deal. €40m would not be a good deal. Far from it.