France defender Jonathan Clauss could become Erik ten Hag 's fourth signing as Manchester United manager after the Red Devils reportedly entered advanced talks with RC Lens.
With Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez - subject to a medical, personal terms and a UK work visa - already confirmed by the club, claims from Portugal suggest that Clauss, 29, is in line to join them at Old Trafford ahead of the new season.
Ten Hag has been keen to upgrade United's squad in multiple positions, with defence and wide areas no exception. Their potential new addition certainly offers quality in both respects, as Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot will be looking over their shoulder while on tour in Australia.
With Clauss edging closer to Old Trafford, here's all you need to know about him.
Fairytale journey
Born in Troyes, France, in September 1992, Jonathan Clauss hasn't had the life of most top-level footballers. Released by Strasbourg as a 17-year-old for being too weak, the now Lens ace was forced to take the long road to Ligue 1. Not believing that professional football was a possibility upon his release, Clauss played in the amateur game while studying sports science.
To help fund his higher education, the then untapped teenage prodigy took on a number of jobs, such as packing sausages at a local butcher's shop and doing night shifts at a postal sorting centre. But hope came from the east, as German sixth-tier side SV Linx snapped him up.
With a reputation for loving a night out, Clauss had to improve his disciple in order to get back in French football, which would happen in 2015 with fifth-division outfit Raon-l'Etape. Old-school coach Bruno Paterno helped the youngster mature on and off the pitch, leading Avranches of the third tier to sign him a year later.
There, Clauss starred in three French Cup ties and began with a sublime goal against Laval which saw his name make the back pages across France. Avranches, coincidentally, drew Strasbourg in the next round and triumphed on penalties in a moment of sweet revenge for their rising star. Beaten by none other than Paris Saint-Germain next up, Clauss' stock was only going one way.
Arminia Bielefeld snapped him up in 2018 and after two impressive campaigns, returned home again with Lens, where he's made 70 appearances and become one of Ligue 1's most exciting defenders. Playing as a marauding right wing-back, Clauss was named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Season last time out and is set to leave France once again this summer.
Transfer tale
In a case of deja vu for United fans, it seems the Red Devils have hijacked another French club's deal, with Marseille expected to sign him for just £8million before interest from abroad emerged. Ten Hag and Co. took Malacia from within Lyon's grip earlier this month, with Clauss set to follow.
The 29-year-old has entered the final 12 months of his contract with Lens, explaining the cut-price fee. According to the Evening Standard, Chelsea had also been interested in his services, with boss Thomas Tuchel identifying him as an ideal wing-back for his system. Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone reportedly harboured the same admiration, but Ten Hag is in line to become the lucky recipient.
Clauss, who - after plenty clamour to get him into the France setup - was handed his first international call-up in March, opened himself up to speculation surrounding his future towards the end of last term.
Speaking to Canal+, via Get Football News France, the former Bundesliga dynamo failed to shut down links of a move away by admitting: "Honestly, like I've said before, I have no idea. The only concrete thing I know is that I am under contract until 2023. For now the future is unclear, because we know there will be discussions, of course.
"It's difficult to give an answer because as we saw tonight, this is an extraordinary club, I feel it deeply. It's not just football, it's everything around it, it's in the heart, in the blood. If I was to leave it would hurt me, but that's football, and if I stay it will be with great pleasure."
Where will he fit in?
So if Clauss does rock up at Old Trafford, how could Ten Hag use him? Well, with United unlikely to employ a formation with wing-backs, his eye for goal and pinpoint deliveries could allow him to operate as a right-winger. The Red Devils have failed to find a long-term solution on that flank in recent years, with the Dutch tactician already hinting that United's left-hand side is superior.
"We have a good left side, but I think you saw against Liverpool that we also had a threat on the right side," Ten Hag explained ahead of the Red Devils' 4-1 win against Melbourne Victory. "It was really good to see it because you want to have weapons. When it is only on one side it is predictable, so we want that to develop over two sides, also from the middle. We have to come from everywhere."
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With Wan-Bissaka, Dalot and academy graduate Ethan Laird sharing the right-back role in pre-season, Clauss still has a good chance of making that position his own and showcasing his defensive qualities.
After establishing himself as the kind of "weapon" which Ten Hag wants to add this summer, Clauss' arrival would be a shrewd move for around the £8m mark, certainly for the short-term. At 29, however, he's still got plenty to give, and going by the determination and willpower that he's shown throughout his fairytale career, don't get against him proving the doubters wrong again.
