Man Utd ready to muscle in on Bayern Munich beast Leon Goretzka with German midfielder stalling over new contract
A STAR midfielder knocks back new contract offers, as the top clubs in Europe watch with interest.
That is not just Paul Pogba — but Leon Goretzka, too.
Pogba looks to be edging closer to leaving Manchester United for a second time, either this summer for cash or next summer for free.
The ideal replacement for the French World Cup winner is having a similar contract stand-off with Bayern Munich.
So no wonder United are keen on the chance to sign a player of Goretzka’s quality for a knockdown fee.
The former Schalke ace, 26, is almost unrecognisable from the scrawny midfielder who joined Bayern three years ago.
He has become one of the most sought after box-to-box players in the world and has bulked up in Bavaria, which has seen him lift the Champions League along with three German titles.
Any club who signs him will be getting an absolute beast — a player who clearly offers brawn as well as brains.
His transformation was never more noticeable than when he returned to Bayern after the first German lockdown.
He stunned team-mates by putting on several pounds of extra muscle during his time at home. And he put his new strength to good use, lifting Europe’s biggest club prize in August last year.
When he posed with the trophy in Lisbon, his new physique was obvious.
So he now has the stature to go with his undoubted quality as a footballer.
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Goretzka was hailed as ‘Germany’s biggest talent in 50 years when he signed a five-year deal with Bochum in 2012, aged just 17.
He soon moved to Schalke for a fee of just over £3million, although his time in Gelsenkirchen was blighted by injury problems.
Goretzka was then diagnosed with an inflamed bowel and changed his diet.
He said: “I cut out gluten, plus cow’s milk, pork and nuts. I have fewer issues with my health now and I can recover from a game much quicker than before.”
He caught the attention of top clubs and in January 2018 announced he would be leaving Schalke to join Bayern.
He excelled as a goal-scoring midfielder in his first two seasons but was moved deeper last term — and proved his versatility by quickly adapting.
He still has an eye for goal and got one for Germany last month which spared them the ignominy of going out at the Euro 2020 group stage.
The options he could give United will have Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rubbing his hands.
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New Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann said last week: “Leon is one of the best box-to-box players in Europe. He is an incredible goal threat.”
Nagelsmann is now praying the contract stand-off can be resolved. If not, then United are ready to muscle in.
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