Manchester United have opened negotiations with Bayern Munich over a potential deal to sign Jerome Boateng.
Jose Mourinho is desperate to add at least one new centre-back to his squad before the transfer deadline passes on Thursday and Boateng is a very viable option.
This story is being reported by none other than Christian Falk, who is *the* source when it comes to all things Bayern…
Exclusive: @ManUtd contacted @FCBayern today to begin negotiations for a transfer of Jerome Boateng @SPORTBILD @BILD_Sport @JB17Official
— Christian Falk (@cfbayern) 5 August 2018
We asked Hasan Salihamidzic, sport-director of @FCBayern, about the request of @ManUtd for @JB17Official. His answer: „No comment“. I asked also José Mourinho, he also didn‘t want to talk about the negotations: „Sorry…“ The topic is hot
— Christian Falk (@cfbayern) 6 August 2018
Protracted injury issues saw Boateng (an ex-Man City player of course) slip down the pecking order at Bayern last season, with the defender failing to appear in over 50% of the Bavarian club’s league games for the past three seasons straight.
Bayern’s willingness to negotiate may also have something to do with the fact that Falk has also confirmed young France international Benjamin Pavard will be joining the Bundesliga champions from Stuttgart in the coming days…
Pavard will be a player for next season of @FCBayern
— Christian Falk (@cfbayern) 6 August 2018
Back to Boateng, valued at somewhere around the €50million mark, United must given serious consideration as to whether they want/need to add another expensive, injury-hampered defender to a stable that already contends with Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo and their multiple knacks and knocks.
Still, with Leicester City reportedly demanding a world record fee (£80-odd-million) for Harry Maguire, Boateng might well represent the next best available option.