Interim manager Ralf Rangnick has identified the Swiss international as a possible solution to Manchester United’s midfield woes.
The Red Devils have reportedly made contact with the agent of star Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Denis Zakaria over a potential move in the ongoing January transfer window. Reputed German football journalist Christian Falk has since corroborated that United are indeed looking to bring in some quality in the midfield and view the 25-year-old as a viable option.
Monchengladbach are believed to be looking for a transfer fee of about 5 million euros for the player, who will be a free agent come the summer. With the currently open transfer window, Gladbach’s last chance to make any returns on the player, they are assumed to be willing to negotiate a deal which will see the Swiss heading to Old Trafford.
United also find themselves languishing in seventh place in the Premier League, a staggering 22 points off league leaders Manchester City. Recently appointed interim manager Rangnick has supposedly identified the cracks in the ship and has identified the midfield as a major priority. Falk says that the veteran German manager is a fan of Zakaria and will be more than happy to bring him in should United strike a deal with Gladbach.
Such being the case, United are believed to have contacted Zakaria’s agent over the move, and are also open to paying a transfer fee to secure the midfielder’s services, which other interested clubs might not be willing to do. Falk claimed that there were no formal negotiations between the two clubs, but it is extremely likely that United would try and get the imposing midfielder’s signature in January.
A transfer fee of €5 million would indeed be a great deal for a player like Zakaria, who has emerged as one of the Bundesliga’s best midfielders in recent times, following his move to Monchengladbach from Young Boys in 2017.
Zakaria’s imposing presence in the middle of the park will give Manchester United a boost, as it has been observed that the Red Devils have been dominated in midfield, something that boss Rangnick has also addressed.
