The summer transfer window isn’t even open yet but Manchester United appear to be on the verge of missing out on one target.
May is upon us and that means the football season is nearing its end.
United have just four Premier League games to go and then the FA Cup final before heading into what should be a fascinating summer.
Ineos are making big moves behind the scenes and the attention will soon turn to Erik ten Hag’s future.
The Dutchman has overseen United going backwards this season and whilst there have been injuries for him to contend with, the performances just haven’t been good enough.
Whether Ten Hag stays or leaves, United have to be active in the summer transfer window with a number of positions needing some attention.
Centre back is one of them, especially with Raphael Varane expected to leave the club at the end of the season.
Manchester United eyed Tosin Adarabioyo
Ideally, United would add two centre backs this summer.
A right-footed centre back to compete with Harry Maguire and another left-footed to offer cover and competition for the sadly injury-prone Lisandro Martinez.
Signing two centre backs won’t be cheap though and United have considered signing a free agent to bolster the back line.
Reports on Wednesday suggested that United held an interest in signing Fulham centre back Tosin Adarabioyo.
Adarabioyo has already told Fulham that he intends to leave the club on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Adarabioyo is in the final stages of his contract at Craven Cottage and intends to more on this summer.
United have been interested and the key factor is Jason Wilcox.
United’s new technical director coached Adarabioyo in the Manchester City youth ranks and even made him Under-18 captain.
A reunion on a free transfer would have made sense, but it sounds like Adarabioyo now intends to head elsewhere.
Newcastle United close in on Adarabioyo
The Sun’s Alan Nixon now reports that Adarabioyo is on the verge of signing for Premier League rivals Newcastle United.
It’s stated that Newcastle are ‘set to clinch’ the signing of Adarabioyo having offered him a ‘lucrative deal’.
Newcastle are not only handing Adarabioyo a ‘huge signing on fee’ but will pay around £6million-a-year in wages.
That works out to around £115,000-a-week, which is a hefty price and one United may not have been willing to match.
The Northern Echo back that up, suggesting that Newcastle are now ‘closing in’ on a deal to sign Adarabioyo.
There may still be a chance for United to hijack the move until a deal is absolutely rubber-stamped, but it looks like Adarabioyo is heading elsewhere and he will be one name to tick off the list for the summer.