A bidding war ignites for Club Brugge starlet Joaquin Seys as Premier League giants scramble to secure the versatile defender before the summer transfer window slams shut.
As the end of the summer transfer window draws near, Manchester United are without the sought-after fullback they reportedly desire to provide competition at the back.
Lewis Hall, though a viable option, seems increasingly unattainable due to Newcastle's stubbornness. His £60 million price tag set by the Magpies has deterred many clubs from pursuing the 21-year-old, forcing them to look elsewhere.
It as been reported that the Reds may be in for Spanish youngster Jorge Salinas from Racing Santander, who may be available for a fee in the region of £16 million, but his inexperience may mean he won't be ready to make an impact on the first team straight away.
Recent reports suggest that United are in the market for a Belgian fullback, who is also being chased by Arsneal.
Utd battle for Seys
One of the more serious emerging candidates for the fullback position is Club Brugge's Joaquin Seys, who is coming off the back of an impressive season in the Belgian Pro League.
His campaign provided a pathway into the Belgian World Cup squad for this summer, where he made his only appearance in the Quarter-Final against Spain off the bench.
According to caughtoffside, United, Arsenal, and Aston Villa have all submitted formal enquiries about Seys' situation. The Belgian giants have reportedly set a price tag of £30 million.
Seys has become a mainstay in the Club Brugge side since making his debut in 2024, in which he went on to make 40 appearances in all competitions that season.
One of the more attractive attributes Seys possesses is his ball retention ability; the 21-year-old, on average, makes 45.39 successful passes per 90 for Club Brugge, which puts him in the 91st percentile for defenders.
The fullback also recorded 192 defensive contributions in the Belgian Pro League last season, which put him in the 92nd percentile.
Though Vivell and the board are in for a left-sided fullback, it's hard to determine whether Seys is the right fit; he's hardly tested himself at the top level and only has two full seasons under his belt at Club Brugge. That said, he has space to grow, and likely won't be made the starting left back for next season fi he signs, meaning he'll have time to adapt to the Premier League.
Utd offered Spence
caughtoffside have also reported that England international Djed Spence has been offered to United, in search of regular game time.
The 26-year-old signed for Spurs in 2022 after impressing in the Championship for Middlesbrough. He then had loan spells at Rennes, Leeds, and Genoa, but was propelled to stardom during England's World Cup campaign.
Spence has hardly found his home at Spurs, enjoying his best period last season, but new manager Roberto de Zerbi has remained skeptical as to whether he is the right fit for his tactics.
The fullback has expressed his desire to play regular first-team football, and his World Cup campaign has caught the eye of many top clubs, including United.
Spence would be the preferred option for many United fans, given his period of excellence over the last year, but long-term, the board will have to decide if Seys' potential outweighs Spence's current ability.
