Manchester United are “willing to pay” €50m (£43m) for Juventus defender Gleison Bremer, according to Tuttosport.
The Italian newspaper reports that the Red Devils are “in the front row” to sign the Brazilian when the transfer window opens this summer.
However, it remains to be seen whether Juve will sanction Bremer’s sale. The Serie A side are said to be holding out for at least €60m (£51m) for the centre-back.
It is not certain whether United are prepared to go that high to sign someone who has just recently turned 27.
INEOS are said to be keen on targeting younger players with potential and you wouldn’t put Bremer in that bracket. However, strengthening the centre of defence will likely be high on the list of priorities.
Varane’s departure could leave United with a major hole to fill
Raphael Varane’s contract is set to expire at the end of June. The Red Devils do have the option to extend for another 12 months but they are reluctant to do so due to the Frenchman’s wages.
The former Real Madrid star is currently the fifth-highest earner in the entire Premier League, taking home £340,000 a week. United are keen for him to take a pay cut but there are no signs that an agreement is within reach.
Bremer is just one option being looked at
While it appears as if the Juventus star is very much on the Manchester club’s radar, he is not the only centre-half who could be signed to replace Varane.
Everton’s Jarrod Branthwaite has been heavily linked, as has Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi and Benfica’s Antonio Silva. None of these defenders will be available on the cheap but they are all, at least, a few years younger than Bremer. Based on their profiles, it makes them more likely targets for INEOS.