Manchester United pushing to sign young Barcelona defender

Manchester United are believed to be pushing for the signing of Barcelona youngster Mikayil Faye this summer.

That is according to Mundo Deportivo, as cited by the Manchester Evening News, with claims United representatives were in Barcelona on Wednesday.

Faye was supposedly one of the main topics of conversation.

However, it is understood that Faye wants to become one of Barcelona’s future centre-backs, which suggests the highly-rated 19-year-old wants to stay at the club.

Faye has yet to make a first-team appearance for Barcelona, although that did not stop Senegal from handing him his senior international debut last month, scoring against Gabon.

United will be looking for defensive reinforcements in the summer. We should expect at least one centre-back, possibly two, with the position being a genuine area of concern for Erik ten Hag this season. Faye can also play at left-back meaning he can potentially cover two areas that have been problematic for the Reds.

Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite is one of the main targets, while United are also being heavily linked with a move for Juventus’ Gleison Bremer. It would make sense to sign another centre-back as an understudy but with the view of them one day becoming a starter to compete with Willy Kambwala next season. That’s why signing Faye could be a no-brainer should Barcelona accept an offer.

Reds in Spain

It is worth noting that United have had several trips to Spain in recent times.

According to the Daily Mail, Manchester United chief operating officer Collette Roche was spotted on a flight back from Madrid last week.

The newspaper suggests Roche was in the Spanish capital to look at the remodelled Bernabeu as a member of the task force behind the Old Trafford regeneration project.