Leroy Sane and Leon Goretska have popped up on Man Utd's radar as the club are 'monitoring' the situations of the two German players says Florian Plettenberg.
Plettigoal as he is known on X, says that United could look to strengthen the squad in the January or June transfer windows. Plettenberg adds that with Goretzka, MUFC are looking for a CM/CDM and that Goretzka would be an interesting candidate.
However, the midfielder wants to remain at Bayern beyond the winter window. His contract ends in 2026 while Sane's expires at the end of the season but is in talks with his club about a new deal.
Final Thoughts
Two good players no doubt. It would be interesting to see how they would perform at United should they join us but I think that this is highly unlikely unless something incredible and unforeseen happens.
But for United to be looking at another Bayern pair is interesting in itself as we took both Mazraoui and De Ligt from them this past window. We also have the links with our Bavarian brothers when it comes to Zirkzee and even Erik ten Hag himself as he was Bayern II coach a decade ago.
Lots of links with the Germans.
I've been a long time admirer of Leroy Sane's. I think he's a top player with an amazing ability but it's just that he doesn't display that ability consistently enough. He can be world class one game and average the next. Hell, he could be world class and average in the same game.
He also has a problem with injuries as he has picked up quite a few over the years. There isn't anything serious although he does pick up something every now and then which keeps him out for a couple of games at a time.
His biggest issue was when he played for rivals Shitty where he missed 50 games for club and country with an ACL injury.
That is something else that he has to his name: he played for those fools. I don't have a problem with that if he is the right profile of player we need.
Goretzka is also a player that I liked for a couple of seasons but admittedly, I don't think he's currently at that level he showed a few years ago.
He's a similar type of midfielder to Ugarte as he is a bit more robust and old school and not necessarily the Rodri type of midfielder we see with City.
On the ball isn't a strength of his although I do think he's better in possession than Ugarte.
He also has his own injury problems as he does pick up a fair few injuries although much like Sane, there isn't anything major.
At 29-years-old, he is starting to get on a bit and I don't think that he at this age is the type of player that we should be looking to get.
In fact, both of Sane (28) and Goretzka are older than all of the players brought in by INEOS this past window. Mazraoui at 26 is the oldest of the five new players: De Ligt (25), Ugarte (23), Zirkzee (23) and Yoro (18).
With INEOS wanting a long-term project, should they be looking at players that are pushing 30? We've done this before and hasn't truly worked out as those players give us one good year before falling. Casemiro is a prime example of this.
But what could them coming to United mean for some of our current players?
Sane plays off either wing. We already have four wingers. However, there's always talk about Rashford and whether people would want to keep or sell him (at least from the fans); Amad has only truly been part of the first team in the last 6-7 months although the club could give him a one-year extension to his deal which expires next year; Antony's future is in doubt; and this could explain why we would be looking for another winger.
Sane is 28 and in his prime. There's no doubting his ability but we also have to consider whether he will want to come to United or not.
Could Goretzka coming in also spell the end for some of our midfielders?
As he can play both CM and CDM, I could see some of our players who play in those positions leave should the German come in.
There is a lot of speculation around the futures of both Casemiro and Christian Eriksen. The Brazilian's contract does expire in 2026 (with an option of a further year) while Eriksen's expires at the end of this season.
With the way Casemiro is playing, his limited game time, age (32) and his wages, United will probably want to move him on before that contract expires in two seasons' time.
Eriksen has been performing (surprisingly) brilliantly for United so far this season. But given his age (32) and his lack of running power and strength to keep up in the Premier League, the club may look to move him on as well.
That would leave just Ugarte who can play CDM although when looking at how little he's been used causing many to doubt him already, whether he will be a viable option remains to be seen.
Mason Mount is unreliable when considering his injury problems in his year at Old Trafford. Should he continue to be injury prone and we let go of Casemiro and Eriksen, the midfield options start to look quite bleak for United with just Mainoo and Bruno left.
This is perhaps a reason as to why they want to sure up the centre of the park with someone like Goretzka.
Is he the right profile of player though, in terms of how we want to play? As I see him more of an old school CDM like Ugarte, do we need to have two of the same? I'd rather have one like that and another who can play ball IYKWIM. I think we need one of each.
If we brought them in, I wouldn't be too upset and would be excited because Sane and Goretzka are good players who will improve us but I don't think they are necessarily what we need. A left-back should be top priority IMO.
I don't even think Sane and Goretzka will come to United anyway.
Background Image: Leroy Sane and Leon Goretzka playing for Germany | Image credit: Getty Images via Eurosport