Manchester United, Liverpool & Real Madrid among those interested in ‘£25m-rated’ midfielder

Manchester United are interested in signing Denis Zakaria in January, according to reports.

The Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder is being linked with several of Europe’s top clubs and looks set to seal a move away from the Bundesliga outfit this window, or in the summer, due to his contract situation.

A deal for Zakaria could also represent Ralf Rangnick’s first signing since taking over as the club’s interim manager last month.

What do we know so far?

Zakaria is set to leave Monchengladbach this summer, at the latest, with his contract expiring at the end of the season. In an official statement last week, the German club said: “Denis Zakaria has informed the club of his intention to leave in the summer after five years at Gladbach.”

Since then, he has been linked with a host of top European clubs, including United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Juventus, all of whom could offer Monchengladbach a fee for the want-away man, rather than losing him for nothing in the summer.

According to The Mirror that sum could be around £25m, a price Zakaria’s current employers deem him worthy of, and United face competition for his signature from European heavyweights Liverpool, Barcelona, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund and Munich.

They also claim Amadou Haidara and Christopher Nkunku are seen as ‘feasible signings’ if a move for Zakaria should fail.

Journalist Jonathan Shrager recently tweeted to say United, Liverpool, Bayern and Dortmund have all enquired about the midfielder’s availability.

Who is Denis Zakaria?

The 25-year-old is a Swiss international who has earned 40 caps to date, although only played a bit part in their Euro 2020 campaign.

Zakaria joined Monchengladbach in 2017 and has been a first-team regular since signing. He’s played 25+ league games in all of his four full seasons at the club, excluding 2019/20 when an injury curtailed his campaign.

The central-midfielder previously played for Swiss sides Young Boys and Servette and he can also deputise as a centre-back.

At 6’3", Zakaria is an imposing physical player, while also being technically proficient. Despite being a holding player, he has registered two goals and an assist so far this term.

“I've been compared to [Patrick] Vieira and [Paul] Pogba – two more players I really respect and, in a way, see as role models,” Zakaria has previously said, as per Bundesliga.com. “When I watch videos of them I think I'd like to play that way.”

Would Zakaria be a good fit?

Yes, he certainly would be. United are desperately lacking in the centre of the park, as the 1-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers showed on Monday night.

Zakaria’s physicality and passing range means he would be a superb addition to the side, while he represents a relatively cheap option compared to some of the other names United have been linked with.

However, £25m for a player who could move for nothing next summer is a hefty fee, while there’s also been the suggestion Zakaria wants to play Champions League football next term, something United can’t guarantee.