Manchester United have joined the race to sign Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder and Manchester City target Denis Zakaria.
According to Sport Italia journalist Gianluigi Longari, Manchester United and Juventus have become the latest entrants in the race to sign Denis Zakaria. The Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder is seemingly becoming one of the most in-demand midfielders in the transfer market, as he is expected to leave the club for free at the end of the season.
As a result, clubs are keen on snapping him up on a cut-price deal in the upcoming January transfer window. Zakaria was already linked with a move to Manchester City multiple times this season, with Pep Guardiola potentially identifying him as a long-term replacement for the ageing Fernandinho.
Their cross-town rivals Manchester United aren’t far behind either. The report suggests that they have already initiated contact with the Gladbach midfielder, hoping to snap him up in the winter window. There is no second-guessing that the Red Devils are in the market for a new holding midfielder after facing intense criticism in the summer.
Their underwhelming performances under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has only pressed the issue further. United have been linked with multiple midfielders throughout the season so far, including Leeds United superstar Kalvin Phillips. But it appears they are now open to finding a more cost-effective alternative and have thus landed on Zakaria.
Highly regarded as one of the most gifted midfielders in the Bundesliga, the Swiss international has enjoyed immense success since joining Gladbach in 2017. He has notched up well over 100 competitive appearances for the Foals, making a name for himself with his tenacity, aggression and fighting spirit.
His ability to act as a ball carrier has attracted the attention of multiple clubs across Europe. Even Real Madrid have registered interest in the former Young Boys starlet, although their wish to only pursue a Bosman move might rule them out of contention. Moreover, the player has recently admitted to his teammates that he wishes to play in the Premier League.
It puts the ball back in Manchester City and Manchester United’s court. But they are not the only ones interested in the services of Zakaria, who is identified as an ideal long-term replacement for Gini Wijnaldum by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool’s involvement in this transfer pursuit certainly points to an intriguing saga for Zakaria in the upcoming January transfer window. It bodes well for Gladbach as well, essentially giving them the leverage to drive up the midfielder’s price tag and cash in on him in order to avoid letting him leave the club for free next summer.
