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MUK IT HAPPEN
Man Utd make Nordi Mukiele one of their top defensive transfer targets with Ralf Rangnick keen on RB Leipzig ace
MANCHESTER UNITED have reportedly made RB Leipzig defender Nordi Mukiele one of their top transfer targets this summer.
The Red Devils are keen to re-assert themselves as major players in the Champions and Premier League next season after an indifferent campaign in both competitions this term.
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United's hopes of a top-four finish in the Prem are looking increasingly perilous after they drew 0-0 with Watford on the weekend.
The Red Devils also face a tough task progressing in the Champions League following their 1-1 draw in the last 16 first leg against Atletico Madrid.
And interim boss Ralf Rangnick sees the rampant right-back Mukiele as one of four stars that can help United reclaim their seat amongst Europe's elite, according to .
The 24-year-old French national has been a key figure in Leipzig's team this season and has featured in 21 of their 28 games in the Bundesliga thus far - scoring one goal and providing one assist along the way.
Rangnick will be confident he can snare Mukiele away from Leipzig as he was the man who brought the defender to the club back in 2018 for £13.3million from Ligue 1 side Montpellier.
If Rangnick's ostensible pursuit of Mukiele is successful, he'll arrive at Old Trafford as direct competition for the Red Devils' present right-back pair Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot.
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Dalot's impressive form this season has seen him replace Wan-Bissaka as United's main right-back and the club will trigger their 12-month option to extend his contract to avoid losing him on a free transfer next year.
On the other hand, Wan-Bissaka's campaign has been hampered by injury and he's only featured in 17 of United's 27 games this season - so his position is most likely to be under threat by Mukiele's arrival.
United's Premier League rivals Chelsea will likely be keeping a close eye on Mukiele's dealings with the Mancunian giants - as they sent scouts to watch him when he was still at Montpellier - but a move failed to materialise.
Along with Mukiele - the Red Devils are also ardently pursuing Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly, West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, and Tottenham striker Harry Kane in a bid to shake things up at the club.
But United will have their work cut out acquiring the trio while they chase Mukiele.
Koulibaly recently revealed that he plans to stay with Napoli for the foreseeable future in an impassioned statement last month.
And despite United emerging as favourites to sign Harry Kane this summer - he won't come cheap - with Spurs owner Daniel Levy wanting no less than £160m for the North Londoner's star striker.
Rice will command a similar exorbitant transfer fee as the Hammers have made it clear that they want atleast £100m for their anchorman.
But Rice set tongues wagging over a potential switch to United in January when he admitted Old Trafford was one of his favourite stadiums to play in.
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