Torino president confident Manchester United target will stay in January

Torino defender Alessandro Buongiorno has reportedly been added to Manchester United’s radar as Erik ten Hag searches for new defenders to revamp his defence.

Firstly, the manager needs to ensure he has the backing of INEOS in the summer because United are not expected to make many additions to the squad this month.

INEOS will spend the coming months evaluating the club and they’re still waiting on the Premier League to ratify their partial takeover deal, which will see Sir Jim Ratcliffe own 25% of the club.

In light of Raphael Varane’s unclear long-term future, United are rumoured to be looking to replace the World Cup winner. The 30-year-old is free to discuss pre-contract agreements with foreign clubs as he approaches the last six months of his contract at Old Trafford.

Varane has missed a lot of football due to injury this season and his performances haven’t met previous standards.

Another defender out of contract in June is Jonny Evans, while Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire may be offloaded if suitable offers arrive, as per ESPN.

The same report claims United have a shortlist of defensive targets including Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt, Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo and Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite.

Buongiorno will stay at Torino in January

Torino president Urbano-Cairo has clarified that Buongiorno will stay at the club in January.

The 24-year-old Italian has also been linked with a move to Napoli.

Speaking to Tuttosport, as per Calciomercato, Cairo said: “I said it last week at the end of the League Assembly and I can only repeat it: he is not for sale. In August, when he expressed his intention to stay with us instead of going to Atalanta, I told him: ‘You are and will be very important for us’. Now I repeat the same thing with even greater firmness. We have renewed his contract until 2028 and he will stay with us, as is also his wish. The relations with the agent Beppe Riso are excellent. But also with Milan, eh.”

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