Belgian giants Anderlecht have reportedly placed a €30 million price tag on midfielder Leander Dendoncker, who is a Manchester United target
According to a report by TransferMarketWeb, Anderlecht are expecting a sum of €30 million for Leander Dendoncker – a player who has caught the attention of Manchester United.
22-year-old Leander Dendoncker is a defensive midfielder who joined Anderlecht back in 2009. He went on to graduate from the club’s academy and become a regular player for the first-team. The player flourished in the position and is now a part of the Belgium national squad as well.
Dendoncker appeared 57 times for Anderlecht last season with six goals to show for his efforts, which is a decent number for a defensive midfielder. Incidentally, the player turned in a couple of commendable performances for Anderlecht during their UEFA Europa League matches against Manchester United.
It is believed that the youngster attracted Jose Mourinho’s attention during those matches as he shone through for the Belgian club.
United set their sights on Dendoncker with Mourinho on the look-out for a midfielder to replace Michael Carrick. However, the Red Devils have now managed to secure a deal for Nemanja Matic from Chelsea.
Thus, even if the deal goes through, Dendoncker will likely have to forego regular first-team football and act as a back-up. The Portuguese boss will have Matic and Carrick at his disposal to play the deep lying midfield role, thereby minimizing a need for a new defensive midfielder.
That being said, Mourinho could be seeking another player in order to facilitate smoother player rotation during the demanding months. Also, in the case of injuries, having a player like Dendoncker can prove to be a boon.
It remains to be seen, though, if the young midfielder is ready to forego regular game time in a bid to land a Manchester United move. Since he is only 22, he will be looking out for clubs where he can clock regular playing minutes to add to his experience.
AC Milan and RB Leipzig have also been linked with him, and with the World Cup only a year away, the midfielder will be looking to secure a berth for himself in the squad, for which he needs to be on the field on a regular basis. Hence, the player could benefit if he chooses either Milan or Leipzig over United.