Manchester United have made moves to find an agreement to sign Bayern Munich star Leon Goretzka this summer on a free transfer, according to Gazzetta Della Sport.
The Red Devils have been strongly linked with moves to upgrade their midfield options during the upcoming transfer window, with Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson considered the top target, while Newcastle star Sandro Tonali is also someone the club are working hard to sign.
But with Casemiro leaving at the end of his contract, and Manuel Ugarte also expected to depart following a lack of game time, United have now started to try and bring in the Germany international as well.
Man Utd 'Make Moves' for Goretzka
Leon Goretzka
Goretzka, who currently earns around £300,000-a-week at Bayern Munich, is set to leave the Bundesliga giants at the end of the season when his contract expires, having fallen down the pecking order under Vincent Kompany.
That has seen several clubs across Europe show a strong interest in bringing the midfield powerhouse to their club, and that includes the Old Trafford club, who are keen to bolster their midfield.
It's understood that the 31-year-old is ready to make the move, and is even willing to take a pay-cut to join his next club, with Man Utd believed to have an advantage in the race for his signature as he feels he could become a regular starter.
United are understood to be prioritising players with Premier League experience, which is why the likes of Anderson and Tonali are on the top of their shortlist, but the club are also open to market opportunities, which is likely why they are exploring a move for Goretzka.
Goretzka Not What Man Utd Need
Leon Goretzka
Goretzka is a hugely experienced midfield player who has had a great career, but there is a reason he can't get any game time at Bayern anymore, and that's because he is past his best.
His engine has always been his greatest strength, and his box-to-box abilities would certainly help Man Utd in the short-term. But at 31 and with big wages likely to be on the agenda, it goes against everything INEOS wants to implement and would be an odd move.
United have enough midfield targets being lined up already, and abandoning those plans for someone who is a totally different profile wouldn't really make sense, so this feels like a deal they should avoid, and it's possible it's the agent playing games to try and drum up some more interest.
Manchester United caretaker boss Michael Carrick claps the fans Related
Forget Tonali: Man Utd To Go All-Out to Sign 'One of World's Leading Players'
Man Utd will go all-out to sign 'one of the world's leading players' ahead of Man City this summer, after making him their top target.