Man Utd find their left-back solution: Bargain January signing greenlit

Manchester United have been told that RB Leipzig captain David Raum can be signed for a knockdown price in January.

The 28-year-old emerged as a target for the Red Devils in the summer. Man Utd were looking for a left-back and considered Raum as a potential option, although nothing ultimately materialised.

At the time, the player admitted that he had received some interesting enquiries, but he was determined to stay at Leipzig for at least another season. That was despite the fact that the Bundesliga side were dragging their feet on a contract extension.

Raum, whose deal expires in 2027, fully expected to be handed fresh terms in the summer. However, it wasn't until a few weeks ago that talks actually started. These discussions were described as positive, but it might be too little, too late.

There is no guarantee that Raum will extend his Leipzig contract, and the club seem to already be preparing for the eventuality that their captain departs. According to BILD, a January move could even be on the cards.

There isn't unanimous backing for a Raum extension at Leipzig. It's been a difficult start to the season for the Red Bulls after a tumultuous summer. They have been incredibly inconsistent, which has affected the performances of their captain.

In the summer, head coach Ole Werner was surprisingly relieved of his duties on the orders of Red Bull's global leadership - which included Jurgen Klopp at the time - despite the Leipzig leadership having been content with his work up to that point.

Martin Demichelis was hired as a replacement, but the turnover didn't stop there. Klopp, Red Bull's head of global soccer, took the Germany job and was replaced by former Leverkusen and Benfica manager Roger Schmidt.

Thus far, Demichelis has failed to take Leipzig to a new level. Results have been mixed, and the former defender has been under significant pressure for weeks, with Julian Nagelsmann one potential replacement, if reports are to be believed.

Compared to last season, Raum's performance levels have dropped. BILD notes that the Leipzig captain is under growing scrutiny behind the scenes, and his omission from Klopp's latest Germany squad is seen as proof that he has significantly declined.

Consequently, Leipzig are prepared to offload Raum for a cut-price fee in January. Obviously, with his contract expiring, the club know that they will not be able to get a figure anywhere close to his €40 million release clause in the winter.

Instead, "a transfer fee in the low double-digit millions is realistic," the German tabloid writes. This is in line with his current Estimated Transfer Value (ETV), which sits at €16.6m.

Raum could therefore be an interesting opportunity for Man Utd, who desperately need a new left-back. At that price, he might be worth the gamble despite his age and disappointing performances of late.

The German has also been linked with a possible move to Italy. Juventus are known to be in the market for a left-back, while BILD understands that a scout from Bologna watched Raum in the Champions League against Man City.

The player himself would prefer a move to England, however. He "dreams" of playing for an elite Premier League club.

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