Manchester United and Liverpool are reportedly battling for Denis Zakaria, with the Red Devils ready to offer him a €10 million-a-year deal.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Manchester United and Liverpool are among the clubs embroiled in a transfer tussle for the signature of Denis Zakaria. The Red Devils are ready to make the first move, with a contract offer worth €10 million per year prepared for the Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder.
After choosing to run down his contract with the club, Denis Zakaria will end a half-a-decade-long stint with Borussia Monchengladbach in the summer transfer window. Signed from BSC Young Boys in July 2017, the Swiss international has progressed significantly in the last five years, establishing himself as one of the best midfielders in Bundesliga.
During his productive five-year spell with Gladbach, the 25-year-old has made 144 appearances, superbly overcoming a long-term knee injury to find stability in his game again. Zakaria is now set for a new phase in his career. And several clubs, including Manchester United and Liverpool, are vying for his signature due to his impending status as a free agent.
Manchester United and Liverpool have already submitted their enquiries to the player as they look to secure his services on a Bosman move in the summer. Manchester United, in particular, could do with a player of Zakaria’s qualities, with signing a defensive midfielder a necessity for them.
With Nemanja Matic approaching the end of his illustrious career, the Red Devils have a shortage of a holding midfielder. Neither Scott McTominay nor Fred is a defensive midfielder, with the two players better utilised as a box-to-box midfielder. To that end, Zakaria is a viable target for Manchester United, who will need to fend off competition from Liverpool to sign him.
Unlike Manchester United, Liverpool will likely use the Swiss international as a box-to-box midfielder, especially with Fabinho going from strength to strength since joining the club. But with Jordan Henderson and James Milner on the wrong side of 30, Zakaria is an option worth considering.
But Liverpool will have to step up in the race to sign Zakaria, with Manchester United preparing a contract offer for the 25-year-old. The Red Devils are willing to offer him a €10 million-a-year deal to secure his services ahead of the other suitors, including Barcelona.
It will be interesting to see if Liverpool will respond with a more lucrative contract offer for Zakaria. If not, Manchester United could run away as the clear front-runner in the race to sign the Gladbach midfielder on a free transfer in the summer transfer window.
