Manchester United make the short trip across the city to face Manchester City on Sunday.
The Red Devils and the Citizens have both endured difficult starts to the new campaign, and Sunday’s Manchester derby promises to be an intriguing encounter.
Ruben Amorim’s side won their first match of the season last time out, defeating newly-promoted Burnley 3-2 courtesy of a dramatic late penalty from captain Bruno Fernandes.
United had previously picked up a single point from their first two Premier League games, as well as being knocked out of the Carabao Cup in the second round by League Two side Grimsby Town.
The Manchester club added the likes of Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo to Amorim’s squad during the recent summer transfer window, but it has now emerged that they are scouting a Belgian defender.
According to CaughtOffside, Manchester United are one of a number of Premier League clubs monitoring Sporting CP centre-back Zeno Debast.
Debast has attracted interest from several Premier League clubs (Photo: Orange Pics BV/Alamy)
The 21-year-old joined Sporting from Belgian side Anderlecht in the summer of 2024 and worked under Amorim for a short period, before the Portuguese departed Lisbon to take charge of United.
Since then he has featured more than 50 times for Sporting, who won the Portuguese top flight title last term.
Debast is also said to have attracted interest from Arsenal and Aston Villa, with all three Premier League sides considering a move for the defender in January.
It is claimed that both the Red Devils and the Gunners have sent scouts to watch the Belgium international in recent weeks, with United considering an offer in the region of £35 million for the player.
Debast’s current contract, which is set to run until the end of the 2028/29 season, is said to include a release clause set just below £70 million.