Man City transfers: Trio of clubs chase Man Utd defender - with City interested

Manchester United right back Ona Batlle is a target for European giants Lyon and Barcelona according to ATA Football.

The Spanish full back has just six months left to run on her United contract, altering last season’s Champions League finalists Lyon and Barcelona and the duo are reported to be considering a move for the defender, with the 23-year-old effectively free to discuss a pre-contract agreement with either club from January. However, ManchesterWorld also believes rivals Manchester City hold a long standing interest in the defender, though how firm that interest is and whether it would even be entertained by player or club is currently unknown.

While head coach Marc Skinner has not addressed the Spaniard’s contract situation specifically, he previously told ManchesterWorld: “I said this before, these contracts talk take a while. With the ever increasing popularity of the game, everything just takes a little bit longer.

“You’re trying to future proof these conversations too, for us we are designing a team that wants to compete in this league so we are working hard to make sure that happens - as soon as we have any updates we’ll make sure we give you them”.

Following the 4-0 weekend win over Sheffield United, the United boss rubbished reports the club hold an interest in Reading midfielder Justine Vanhaevermaet, telling the Manchester Evening News: “Some of the reports on some of the midfielders we’re looking at are not true. There’s a Reading midfielder that we’re not looking at so I can be very clear on that”.

He did concede he was looking to add to his squad in the January window though, adding “the reality is that we are looking and continue to look - we always will do at this club so we will plan ahead”.

Batlle has been in excellent form for United this season, with six assists in nine games from right back and fans will be hoping the club can fend off the reported interest.