Man Utd plot Monaco raid amid sporting director links
Tom Weber
- 8 Nov 2023 11:50 CST
- 3 min read
According to a report, Manchester United have their sights set on Monaco duo Vanderson and Youssouf Fofana - and their former sporting director.
As part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's pending minority investment in the club, which will see the INEOS billionaire acquire a 25 per cent stake and control of sporting operations, a significant shake-up in Man Utd's hierarchy is expected. The Red Devils have been heavily linked with ex-Monaco sporting director Paul Mitchell to fill that role at Old Trafford.
The ex-Tottenham and RB Leipzig man has reportedly already moved to Manchester as he is keen on the job and only waiting for Ratcliffe's investment to be ratified. Now, 90min claims that the Premier League giants also want to snap up some Monaco players, though the report stresses that this has little to do with the potential hire of Mitchell.
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The two players in question, Youssouf Fofana and Vanderson, are seen as good options to fill roles that have given Erik ten Hag repeated headaches.
Man Utd want Monaco duo
With Casemiro beginning to show his age and enduring a noticeable drop-off in performance levels, the Red Devils are in the market for a defensive midfielder, a role Fofana has excelled in in recent seasons, earning call-ups to the senior France national team with his showings for Monaco.
Fofana was already linked with a Premier League switch in the summer but admitted that he preferred remaining with Monaco as the offers on the table did not feel like an upgrade on his current arrangement in the micronation.
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Vanderson, meanwhile, has quickly established himself as one of Ligue 1's most interesting right-backs since arriving in Europe and this, too, is an area that Man Utd have long been keen to reinforce. It will be a struggle to sign him, though, as Real Madrid are also said to be keeping a close eye on his development.
