Manchester United could reportedly face fierce competition from Bayern Munich for the signature of Brighton & Hove Albion's goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.
United's shot-stoppers have come under scrutiny this season for a series of high-profile errors, including against Wolverhampton Wanderers on December 26 when Andre Onana conceded directly from a corner.
Ruben Amorim's side have conceded 10 goals from set pieces in the Premier League this term, the third-worst record in the top flight, and question marks about Onana's future at Old Trafford have once again surfaced.
Erik ten Hag replaced David de Gea in the summer of 2023 with Onana for a reported fee that could rise to a figure close to £50m, but the current Red Devils goalkeeper has failed to live up to expectations.
Though United have been linked with Brighton's Verbruggen in the past, Bild report that Bayern Munich are seriously considering the 22-year-old as an option to replace Manuel Neuer.
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Can Manchester United compete with Bayern Munich
Amorim's side are currently 14th in the Premier League table with 22 points from 19 games and are on track to record their lowest points total since 1977–78, when they totalled just 42 points.
The Portuguese boss even admitted in the aftermath of their 2-0 defeat against Newcastle United on December 30 that the Red Devils are at risk of relegation.
Meanwhile, Bayern are first in the Bundesliga and have only failed to win the league title once in the last 12 seasons, and they also reached the semi-finals of the Champions League last term.
Given Verbruggen's age, it is plausible that he could continue playing for more than a decade at the top level, but a move to United when they are arguably at their lowest would be a risky move, especially considering the club likely need several transfer windows before they get back to competing for the biggest honours.
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Should Ruben Amorim look elsewhere for reinforcements?
While Onana still has to prove that he is capable of being a starter in a title-winning side, there is a case to be made that the club should look to improve elsewhere before spending significant sums on a goalkeeper.
Only four teams in the Premier League have scored fewer than the Red Devils' tally of 21 goals, a figure that is less than half that of first-placed Liverpool's total of 45 goals scored.
In defence, the likes of Lisandro Martinez have struggled to find form and have looked increasingly vulnerable despite playing in a back three.
Midfielder Manuel Ugarte has also been inconsistent despite showing some promise, while youngster Kobbie Mainoo has found it difficult to showcase his best level.
If United do choose to pursue Verbruggen, the club must make sure that he can make an immediate impact, especially given reports that United will not have large sums of cash to spend in the upcoming transfer windows.
Lewis Nolan
