Transfer Centre

Manchester United to include Mason Greenwood in deal for top defensive target?

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 30 March 2024

Man United to include Mason Greenwood in deal for top defensive target?

Manchester United reportedly consider including Mason Greenwood as part of a deal to sign Juventus' highly-rated centre-back Bremer.

Manchester United could reportedly offer Mason Greenwood to Juventus as part of their efforts to capture Brazilian centre-back Bremer.

After charges of attempted rape, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and engaging in coercive and controlling behaviour were dropped against Greenwood last year, Man United undertook their own internal investigation into the matter.

It was decided that the one-cap England international would be advancing his career away from Old Trafford, although the Red Devils stopped short of terminating his deal and instead loaned him out to Getafe.

Greenwood has made a positive impression in Spain with eight goals and five assists from 27 games, and Man United's new minority stakeholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe has not ruled out the prospect of the 22-year-old returning to Manchester in a playing capacity.

However, a re-integration into Erik ten Hag's squad is still considered highly unlikely, and ahead of his contract expiry in the summer of 2025, Man United are expected to entertain appropriate offers in the upcoming window.

Juventus defender Bremer on February 23, 2023 © Reuters

Man United going all in for Bremer

Greenwood is said to have settled in Spain with his family and would be happy to remain in La Liga amid links with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, although the former are not believed to possess a serious interest in signing him right now.

Instead, La Gazzetta dello Sport suggests that the 22-year-old could be used as a makeweight in negotiations with Juventus for Bremer, believed to be the Red Devils' number one defensive target for 2024-25.

The former Torino man has gone from strength to strength during his two years in Turin and was recently rewarded with a new long-term deal until 2028, which he signed at the end of December.

Bremer, a physically imposing defender at 6ft 2in tall, has proven himself as a threat in both boxes with seven goals in 72 matches for Juventus, and he played twice for his country at the 2022 World Cup.

Should Juventus turn their nose up at the chance to sign Greenwood, though, the Red Devils would supposedly have no qualms about forking out Bremer's release clause, said to be an affordable €60m (£51.3m).

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag applauds fans after the match on February 24, 2024 © Reuters

Four centre-backs to leave in Man United exodus?

Bremer's possible arrival at Old Trafford could coincide with a mass exodus of centre-backs from the Theatre of Dreams, where Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans are both out of contract at the end of the season.

Varane's 12-month extension option until 2025 remains inactivated, while Erik ten Hag is believed to be in favour of a short-term extension for Evans, but there are not thought to be any renewal talks in the pipeline.

Meanwhile, the long-term futures of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof have been a hot-button topic for some time, although both men have played prominent rules for Man United this season amid their defensive injury problems.

The duo have benefitted from Lisandro Martinez's struggles for fitness, but the Argentine is the only senior centre-back all but guaranteed to stay at Old Trafford for 2024-25, such is his importance to Ten Hag's system.

The former Ajax man could return from his latest injury when Man United face Brentford on Saturday evening, but Maguire and Evans are both doubtful due to knocks.