Man Utd 'already monitoring' £52m Bundesliga defender liked by Arsenal and Liverpool

Manchester United are among three Premier League teams reportedly monitoring the progress of Eintracht Frankfurt defender Willian Pacho ahead of the summer window.

Pacho has impressed in his debut campaign at Frankfurt, following a £6million move from Belgian outfit Royal Antwerp in the summer. The Ecuadorian international has made the step into a top-five European league with relative comfort, playing every minute in the Bundesliga as part of the league's third-best defence.

That influence has caught the eye of Europe's top clubs already and German outlet Sport BILD reports that United are 'already monitoring' the 22-year-old's development. Liverpool and Arsenal are also said to hold interest from the Premier League, while Real Madrid and Napoli are keeping tabs from the continent.

Pacho signed a long-term contract upon signing last summer, theoretically keeping him in Frankfurt until 2028. The German club are thought to have planned a sale in the future but the ease with which the defender has acclimatised to elite-level football could accelerate his exit.

And Frankfurt are set to make a hefty profit when they do sell, with the report suggesting they would expect to do a deal for around €60million (£51.2m). Pacho is set to meet with sporting director Markus Krösche to discuss summer plans but a last-minute move on deadline day is off the table.

United will face intense competition for any move but it seems as though the Premier League is Pacho's most likely destination. The centre-back is thought to have been in contact with international teammate Moises Caicedo, currently at Chelsea, espousing the strength of English football and his desire to be a part of it.

Pacho would fit the profile of central defender wanted by United in the summer, with manager Erik ten Hag keen to lower the age profile in that area of the pitch. Three of his current five options are 30 or above, with Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans both set to leave as free agents once their contracts expire.

Harry Maguire will be 31 by the end of the season and despite enjoying a brief period of form this season, was up for sale all summer and United accepted a £30m bid from West Ham for him. It is unclear whether he fits into Ten Hag's long-term plans.

United have been linked with a number of central defenders in recent months, including Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite, Barcelona's Ronald Araujo and Jean-Clair Todibo of OGC Nice. It is likely there will be more than one major arrival in that area.