How Man united can line-up with perfect £110m Double summer transfers thanks to Jurgen Klopp

How Man united can line-up with perfect £110m Double summer transfers thanks to Jurgen Klopp

Erik ten Hag will look to bolster his playing squad in the summer after Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s arrival

Manchester United are performing at their best levels yet this season after a disastrous festive period. The 2-1 win over Chelsea at the start of December was the Reds’ only win in seven games towards the end of the year.

The poor run of form saw hopes of securing Champions League football all but dim. However, three straight wins over Wolves, West Ham and Aston Villa means United are now just six points behind Tottenham in fourth.

United have plenty to play for in the final three months of the season, yet preparation for the summer transfer window is already underway.

Jeremie Frimpong and Tapsoba(Getty images)

After a mute January window, the Reds have provisionally targeted four key signings ahead of the new season.

A full-back and centre-back are two of the positions intended to strengthen, alongside a central midfielder and attacker.

A list of names have and will be linked with a move to Old Trafford, but Manchester Evening News understands that the club are continuing to monitor Bayer Leverkusen pair Jeremie Frimpong and Edmond Tapsoba.

The defenders have been pivotal to the German leaders’ imperious form and have helped them on their way to their first-ever Bundesliga title.

Both players featured in Saturday’s 3-0 thumping of title rivals Bayern Munich, with Frimpong coming off the bench to score and Tapsoba keeping Harry Kane quiet.

United held discussions with the representatives of Frimpong last year. The attacking wing-back has emerged as one of the most in-demand defenders across Europe in the last 24 months, with Tapsoba also linked with a move to the Premier League in the last three windows.

Despite Diogo Dalot performing at his highest level since joining Porto in 2018, Ten Hag is said to be keen on bringing the Dutch international, valued at £68million, to add more threat down the right. Frimpong has contributed to 13 goals in 20 league games this season, making him one of Leverkusen’s most dangerous players.

Tapsoba, who moved to Leverkusen in 2020, can play either left or right centre-back and offers height, good passing range and an aerial threat. However, with a contract at the BayArena until 2028, it’s expected that Leverkusen will demand close to his €50million (£42.5m) valuation from CIES Football Observatory.

One contributing factor to Man United signing both players could be Jurgen Klopp’s exit from Liverpool. The German is leaving the club at the end of the season and Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso the frontrunner to replace him.

Alonso’s possible exit could see Leverkusen lose some of their biggest players. Playmaker Florian Wirtz is another player who could be sold, with Bayern Munich keen.

A move for Frimpong and Tapsoba would more than strengthen United. Raphael Varane’s deal expires in 2024 and Lisandro Martinez’s injuries mean a centre-back arrival is paramount for the new season

Here’s how the Reds could line up with the Leverkusen pair: Onana; Frimpong, Martinez, Frimpong, Dalot; Casemiro, Mainoo; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund.