Manchester United have entered the competition to sign VfB Stuttgart defender Finn Jeltsch. The 20-year-old is also being tracked by Juventus, Bayern Munich and Arsenal.
Stuttgart are not willing to let the player leave during the January transfer window. Club officials believe holding onto him until the summer could increase his eventual transfer fee. Jeltsch is currently valued in the region of £25 million.
Defensive considerations
United's interest comes as the club sits 11th in the Premier League with four points from three games. They have conceded six goals this season, a record the coaching staff is keen to improve. The club's next match is a key derby against league leaders Manchester City on Sunday.
Manager Erik ten Hag has been assessing his defensive options, with Luke Shaw among the players currently sidelined. The full list of absentees includes Amad Diallo, Carlos Baleba, Manuel Ugarte and Tom Heaton.
United's most recent outing was a 4-0 friendly win over Sabah FA, with goals from Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, Benjamin Šeško and Lisandro Martínez. Fernandes is the team's top scorer this season with three goals. The club's recent league form shows two wins, one draw and two losses from their last five matches.
A move for Jeltsch would represent a long-term investment in defensive reinforcements. The young German is seen as a prospect for the future rather than an immediate starter. Any deal is likely to be structured over the summer transfer window.
United face City at Old Trafford on 13 September, a fixture that will test their current defensive resolve.
