‘Doing their homework’: United mull over pursuit of young talent who Arsenal are lining up a bid for

Bolstering Manchester United’s backline will be high on Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s priority list ahead of his first transfer window as co-owner. 

This season’s debilitating injury crisis has undoubtedly hit the defensive department the hardest, which has led to an ever-changing back four deployed in front of Andre Onana over the past nine months.

Lisandro Martinez started his first Premier League game since February 4 on Sunday when he was named in the matchday squad for the Reds’ final outing of the term, partnering the deputising Casemiro in his highly-anticipated comeback match.

Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans, both of whom will leave the club when their contracts expire in June, entered the fold later in the clash at the Amex, meaning fans may get to see formidable duo Varane and Martinez take to the pitch one last time in Saturday’s FA Cup final.

On the left-hand side of the defence, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot have been taking turns filling the void in recent months after it was confirmed that Tyrell Malacia would miss the entirety of the season, and Luke Shaw was in a race to return before the culmination of the campaign.

While Malacia’s setback was evidently a significant one, there have been further concerns over Shaw enduring yet another injury-plagued term, in which he has been limited to just 12 appearances in all competitions.

You’d struggle to put a case forward for the Englishman’s reliability nowadays, so it leaves the board no other choice but to acquire another player to bolster the position.

Reds could vie with Arsenal for Ajax starlet

As per HITC, United have been ‘doing their homework’ on Ajax’s Jorrel Hato, who has just won the club’s Marco van Basten award.

The 18-year-old has quickly emerged as one of the most highly-rated prospects, and despite penning a four-year deal with the Amsterdam outfit in March, he’s been tipped to leave the club this summer after they failed to qualify for Europe.

Arsenal are believed to be leading the race for Hato’s signature and are reportedly lining up their opening bid as United mull over their potential pursuit. The Gunners do, of course, boast the opportunity of playing Champions League when presenting their offer to the teenager.