Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Leicester City centre-back Ben Nelson, with the club valuing the 22-year-old at £10million. The potential move comes as manager Michael Carrick looks to strengthen his defensive options ahead of the new season.
United have already been active in the transfer window, bringing in Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans to bolster their midfield, alongside goalkeeper Karl Darlow on a free transfer. Reports suggest they are also pursuing Roma’s Manu Kone and Fulham’s Sander Berge as further midfield reinforcements, while a new left-sided attacker and a forward to compete with Benjamin Sesko are also priorities.
Nelson, a product of Leicester’s academy, made 27 appearances for the club last season despite their relegation to League One. He has informed the Foxes of his desire to leave the King Power Stadium following the club’s consecutive relegations. West Ham United, Torino, and Borussia Monchengladbach have also expressed interest, but have already seen offers rejected.
According to the Daily Mail, Leicester are currently holding firm on their £10million valuation, a fee United are not expected to be deterred by. Director of football Jason Wilcox and head of recruitment Christopher Vivell are leading the efforts to reinforce Carrick’s defensive lineup. A key benefit of signing Nelson is his versatility, as he is also capable of playing at left-back, a position of need for United given Luke Shaw’s injury history and concerns over Patrick Dorgu’s suitability for a back four.
United’s pre-season campaign begins this Saturday with a match against Wrexham in Helsinki. The potential arrival of Nelson would provide much-needed depth in defence, particularly with Matthijs de Ligt still recovering from a back injury and Lisandro Martinez returning late after Argentina’s World Cup final appearance.
