Man Utd in the bidding to sign their own Saliba for £60m

Ridiculed and written off, Harry Maguire hasn’t had it easy in recent years at Manchester United, yet it is to his credit that the experienced centre-back has kept battling his way back into contention.

Stripped of the captaincy under Erik ten Hag in 2023, the 33-year-old is now front and centre again under Michael Carrick, having enjoyed a stellar 2026 so far at club level.

It might not have been enough to earn what appeared a deserved World Cup nod, but Thomas Tuchel and England’s loss might be United’s gain, with both Maguire and compatriot Luke Shaw afforded a summer away from the limelight to recover and recharge.

On the evidence of Carrick’s tenure thus far, it looks for all the world as if Maguire and Lisandro Martinez will remain the starting defensive pairing heading into next season, although could that actually change if signings are made this summer?

Man Utd in the race to sign £60m-rated centre-back

It is in midfield where INEOS’ priorities lie, with reports indicating that a deal for Atalanta’s Ederson could be getting closer, the Brazilian representing the first of potentially as many as three midfield arrivals this summer.

That’s not to say other areas of the squad will be ignored, however, with the centre of defence still a concern due to the injury issues that Maguire, Martinez, Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt have faced to date.

Indeed, it was only last month that Ayden Heaven and Noussair Mazraoui started alongside each other in the win over Chelsea, while Maguire hasn’t reached 20 league starts in any of the last four seasons.

That search has seen United tipped to make a move for Tottenham Hotspur’s Micky van de Ven, albeit with the Dutchman seemingly favouring a move to Liverpool instead.

Not to worry, however, as Van de Ven’s Spurs colleague, Luka Vuskovic, is also on United’s radar by all accounts, with SportsBoom reporting that Carrick and co are keeping tabs on the 19-year-old sensation.

As per the report, a raft of Europe’s elite clubs, including the Red Devils, have entered the bidding for the Croatian’s signature, with the likes of Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona also in the frame.

The north London side won’t let the teenager go on the cheap, however, with a fee of around €70m (£60m) having been mooted.

Why Vuskovic signing could spell bad news for Maguire

No, you haven’t missed anything. Vuskovic has not been part of Spurs’ miserable Premier League campaign this season, having not actually made a competitive appearance for his parent club to date.

Initially signed in advance from Hajduk Split as far back as late 2023, Vuskovic then spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Belgian side Westerlo, before officially joining Tottenham last summer.

Another loan move to Hamburg followed, with the 6 foot 4 starlet picking up where he left off last season, proving integral to the club’s successful survival bid in the Bundesliga.

He may only be 19, but Vuskovic has all the makings of being the game’s next leading centre-back, even hailed as being “like [William] Saliba” by analyst and Como scout, Ben Mattinson.

In Saliba’s case, the Frenchman was snapped up as a teenager himself by Arsenal in 2019, albeit while not actually forcing his way into the first-team picture under Mikel Arteta until the 2022/23 season.

Spurs will be hoping for Vuskovic to follow a similar path, although not if United and Europe’s elite can help it, with the senior Croatian international such an obvious, standout talent.

Like Maguire, who’s built up a catalogue of key goals in a United shirt, the most notable trait of the youngster’s game is his prowess in the opposition box, having scored six Bundesliga goals this season, after previously netting seven times in Belgium.

To say that papers over the cracks of defensive shortcomings would be a mistake, however, with Vuskovic also something of a duel monster in the heart of the defence, as his form in 2025/26 has showcased.

In Germany’s top-flight, the right-footer won 68% of his total duels and 75% of his aerial duels, making a mammoth nine clearances per game from his 28 outings.

For comparison, in the Premier League this season, Maguire – who actually only started 19 times – won 70% of his total duels and 75% of his aerial duels, albeit while averaging just 4.6 clearances per game.

Maguire’s lack of mobility was also an issue on occasion, having given away penalties against Fulham and Bournemouth, while undone on the turn for Liverpool’s first goal at Old Trafford earlier this month.

Vuskovic appears to boast the Englishman’s physical power, yet with superior pace and athleticism, boasting all the attributes to ensure he could slot in smoothly at any top club in Europe.

By all accounts, he will be someone’s Saliba-esque figure for the long-term, if they can seal a deal, with United needing to ensure they don’t miss the opportunity to potentially settle their defence for the next decade or so.