Manchester United to hijack 'advanced talks' for defender - sparking fury from rivals: report

Manchester United owner Jim Ratcliffe, chairman and founder of Ineos Group Holdings Plc, during a Bloomberg Television interview at The Grenadier pub in London, UK, on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. Ratcliffe's Ineos Automotive offered a first look Friday at the Fusilier, a sport utility vehicle smaller than the Grenadier 4x4 that the closely held company started selling early last year.

Manchester United’s search for a new centre-back this summer could see them leverage an existing relationship to usurp Newcastle United in the race for an in-demand Premier League defender. 

Central defence is set to be a key area that the Red Devils move to address this summer, with the team’s frailties at the position evident again on Monday evening, when Crystal Palace cruised to a 4-0 win over Erik ten Hag’s team at Selhurst Park.