Premier League heavyweights are reportedly still interested in 20-year-old French youth international Castello Lukeba.
According to a report German outlet BILD, Castello Lukeba remains the subject of interest from Manchester United. The Red Devils were keen on signing the 20-year-old centre-back in the summer transfer window. But they are still keen on the youngster despite missing out on his signature a few months ago.
Castello Lukeba is one of the most highly-rated young defenders in the world. The French youth international spent his formative years in his homeland, beginning at Olympique Saint-Genis-Laval before joining Lyon in 2011. He subsequently rose through the ranks at the Ligue 1 club before breaking into the first-team squad at the start of the 2021/22 season.
The 20-year-old was a regular for Les Gones in the last two seasons before moving to RB Leipzig this past summer. And Lukeba has hit the ground running at the Red Bull Arena, turning out 16 times thus far for the Bundesliga club. Meanwhile, the youngster’s progress in the last few years have not gone unnoticed.
Widespread reports ahead of the summer transfer window linked the young Frenchman with Manchester United before he joined RB Leipzig. He has also captured the attention of other Premier League bigwigs. Meanwhile, the Red Devils remain interested in the player despite missing out on his signature.
Manchester United failed to sign a centre-back in the summer transfer window after Harry Maguire remained at Old Trafford. Since then, the English international has resurrected his stuttering fortunes at the club. But Raphael Varane’s future has come under a cloud of uncertainty after going in and out of the starting lineup thus far this term.
In addition, with the Frenchman on the wrong side of 30, it behoves Manchester United to invest in a centre-back. Several defenders, including Gianluca Mancini, have thus emerged on their radar. But Lukeba is also a viable target, with Manchester United monitoring the 20-year-old French youth international “again and again”.
But a move so soon after joining RB Leipzig might not be on the cards. Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see if Manchester United can turn Lukeba’s head with an approach in a transfer window next year.