Michael Carrick, Mikel Arteta & Arne Slotplaceholder image
Michael Carrick, Mikel Arteta & Arne Slot | Getty Images
Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool all have the chance to bring in an exciting defensive prospect this summer.
Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool are keen on RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba this summer, according to a new report by Sport Witness. The top flight trio have all being linked with a move for the rising centre-back star ahead of the next transfer window - and there is a growing feeling that he could wind up in the top flight before long.
The Frenchman is a player whose name has cropped up in the gossip columns with regularity after an impressive season in the Bundesliga - but who is Lukeba, and is he a player who could improve an elite Premier League side?
Who is Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool target RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba?
Lukeba started out at Saint-Genis Laval before linking up with Lyon. He rose up through the academy of the Ligue giants and was a regular at various different youth levels as a youngster. The Lyon-born man then went on to make 68 appearances for his boyhood club in all competitions, chipping in with four goals from the back.
The France international, who has made one cap for his country to date, was then snapped up by Leipzig. He penned a five-year deal with the German outfit back in 2023 and has since become a regular for them at the back. The 23-year-old has since played 97 games altogether and has found the net on two occasions.
His current club could now face a serious battle to keep hold of him amid attention from elsewhere, despite having under contract until 2029. It would be a major blow for them to lose him, especially at his young age. However, their hands will be tied if an offer that they can’t refuse comes in for his services.
Latest regarding Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool
Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool will all see Lukeba as someone to bolster their respective defensive departments. The Red Devils have a big decision to make regarding their full-time managerial situation which may be putting their recruitment plans on ice for the time being. Michael Carrick has done an impressive job in interim charge since he took over from Ruben Amorim on a caretaker basis, but have yet to determine whether he will take over for the long haul.
As for the Gunners, they are currently on course to win the title this term under Mikel Arteta. Manchester City continue to chase them down at the summit though and they can’t afford to be complacent. They are defensively sound already, and Lukeba could find it hard to get into their starting XI if he went there with strong competition from the likes of Gabriel and William Saliba. On paper, their need for a player like Lukeba looks rather less urgent.
Liverpool have underperformed since they won the league last year and find themselves in fifth position. Arne Slot’s men were beaten 2-1 by Brighton and Hove Albion last time out and need to sort themselves out when they return to the action. Lukeba may have been identified by the Reds as someone to step into the shoes of Virgil van Dijk. The Dutchman’s deal runs out in 2027, and he isn’t getting any younger - there is a clear need to start thinking about alternatives, especially with Ibrahima Konaté looking likely to leave the club on a free transfer.
All three sides are in the mix, according to recent reports, but Liverpool might well be the frontunners by virtue of the sheer necessity of signing a new centre-half - or two. As it stands, there is no suggestion that a formal offer has been made, and these reports remain rumours, but it would be no great shock to see a bidding war starting up when the transfer window re-opens. Lukeba’s name is likely to be mentioned time and again as teams conduct their business over the coming months.
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