Manchester United have made contact with Club Brugge over a deal to sign Joaquin Seys ahead of Arsenal, according to reports.
The Red Devils have identified left-back as a potential area of upgrade in the side, with Luke Shaw the club's longest-serving player and injury issues having hampered him throughout his career. Despite featuring in every Premier League fixture last term, the 31-year-old played just seven times the previous season and has only completed 30 games a season three times in 12 seasons.
Described as a 'top, top talent', Seys has already made 97 appearances for Brugge, but talks surrounding his immediate future could accelerate in the coming weeks. He is currently contracted to his boyhood side until 2029. The 21-year-old has emerged as a target at Old Trafford as a result of extensive scouting, but Brugge are not in a rush to sell and are understood to have placed a value of around €35m (£30m) on any potential deal.
Man Utd are not expected to be put off by the asking price as they seek a long-term solution to their left-back position, with Luke Shaw now into the final year of his contract with the club. At the World Cup he had a largely backup role, but he featured for 30 minutes against Spain in the quarter-final, going directly against Lamine Yamal, and his club manager Ivan Leko insists that he is going to reach the very highest level in his career. “He may have only played thirty minutes at that World Cup, in the quarter-final against Spain, but what a half-hour it was!" "Joa did a fantastic job against Lamine Yamal, one of the best players in the world.” "I see Seys reaching the absolute top of the Premier League: in my opinion, he has no ceiling. He has the talent, the character, and above all: the right mentality. He is often the first to arrive here and the last to leave.”