Man Utd ‘leapfrog’ Chelsea in race for £60m PSG star as French side eye ‘major rebuild’

Joe Williams
Man Utd target Achraf Hakimi claps the supporters

Man Utd have overtaken Premier League rivals Chelsea in the race to sign Paris Saint-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi, according to reports.

The Red Devils are enjoying a positive season under Erik ten Hag with the Dutchman guiding them to Carabao Cup glory and putting them on course to qualify for the Champions League via the Premier League.

Man Utd still have a chance of winning the FA Cup too with Ten Hag’s budget likely to be boosted by riches from qualifying for the Champions League.

The competition may also help Man Utd attract a better quality of player to the club and one position they are looking to strengthen is right-back.

Striker is their priority in the summer transfer market, with Ten Hag urging the club to sign a centre-forward in the summer transfer market, but right-back is next on the list.

And Football Insider claim that Man Utd have ‘leapfrogged’ Chelsea in the race to sign PSG right-back Hakimi as they are now ‘better positioned’ than their Premier League rivals.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka has done brilliantly in recent weeks but it remains very likely that Ten Hag will still look to bring in a new right-back in the summer.

Both Man Utd and Chelsea are ‘prepared to move for the 24-year-old defender at the end of the season’ with PSG ‘open’ to offers for Hakimi.

It is understood that the Ligue 1 side are prepared to sell the Morocco international if they can fetch £50m-60m for his services with the French giants ‘considering a major rebuild this summer’.

Hakimi is ‘open to a Premier League move if forced out of Paris this summer, and that he would prefer a move to a club competing in the Champions League’, which puts Man Utd in the driving seat.

And transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has brought an update on a number of Man Utd issues, including the takeover and some transfer rumours.

Romano told Caught Offside: “The feeling of those close to the process of the Manchester United sale is that the amount of the proposal from Sir Jim Ratcliffe is bigger than the Qatari proposal from Sheikh Jassim. But it’s also important to say that those close to Sheikh Jassim are confident that he remains in the race.

“Nothing is decided yet and the next hours will not be crucial, it could take a few more days to see what will be happening. Let’s see who will be the preferred bidder.

“Jurrien Timber’s situation will be clarified soon in the market and not late August as for Antony last year. Timber wants to try a new experience, that’s why he signed a short term deal last summer.

“English and German clubs are interested; for United, it still depends on how much they want to invest in that position as a new striker is their priority for now.

“I don’t have confirmation of any advanced or concrete situation for Dominik Livakovic at this stage, despite some questions about links with Manchester United. He wants a top league move in the summer for sure but the goalkeepers domino has not started yet.”

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