It is crucial for Manchester United to support manager Erik ten Hag as they prepare for the Champions League and fans eagerly anticipate a renewed title challenge.

In a promising development, Mason Mount has already joined the club and even made his unofficial debut in United’s pre-season victory over Leeds United, a positive addition to the squad. Follow your favourite Premier League team with attractive football betting odds from Nextbet. 

While the club is close to finalizing a deal with Inter Milan for goalkeeper Andre Onana, their search for a defender has proven to be quite complex and challenging.

Initially, the Red Devils had their sights set on acquiring Serie A champion Kim Min-jae, but due to financial constraints, they had to wait for player sales and the completion of the club’s takeover before proceeding with the transfer.

Regrettably, these circumstances have prevented United from securing their target, allowing Bayern Munich to swoop in and sign the Napoli player.

In an unfortunate turn of events, Spanish outlet Nacional has recently revealed that United will also miss out on another highly sought-after defender.

According to the report, United had offered €60 million to Real Madrid in an attempt to secure the services of Antonio Rudiger. Additionally, they promised the player a significantly higher salary, hoping to entice him to join the club.

However, club president Florentino Pérez has reportedly rejected the offer, demonstrating his determination to keep Rudiger at Madrid.

“United had planned to offer 60 million euros to persuade Florentino Pérez to consider their proposal. They tempted the 30-year-old defender with a substantially higher salary than his current one in Madrid, even guaranteeing him an untouchable status.

“Nevertheless, Florentino Pérez never entertained the idea of Rudiger’s departure. Despite the opportunity to make a lucrative deal with an aging player who arrived on a free transfer, he has stood firm.

“Pérez made it clear that the number 22 will not leave Madrid, forcing Manchester United to seek alternatives.”

The rejection of Rudiger’s approach marks a setback for United, as they had hoped to secure their third signing from Real Madrid, following the acquisitions of Raphael Varane and Casemiro in recent seasons.

Should club captain Harry Maguire depart, United will need to reinforce their defense with another player. However, financial limitations dictate that their immediate focus remains on addressing more pressing areas.

The team’s attacking options are severely lacking, and once a striker has been secured, Ten Hag’s attention will turn to acquiring a versatile forward, a defensive midfielder, and a reserve goalkeeper.

United can only redirect their efforts toward signing another defender if they are successful in offloading players and generating the necessary funds. Get the latest updates from the Premier League only on Nextbet Sports.