United draw up fresh contract proposal for highly-rated star in a bid to fend off outside interest

Manchester United are keen to tie down Willy Kambwala’s long-term future to the club by tabling a bumper contract offer.

The 19-year-old is fresh off the back of making just his second senior start for the Reds when he was deployed from the offset against then-league leaders Liverpool last Sunday. He was called upon to deputise for his senior, sidelined counterparts Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof, and he did a stellar job throughout.

Kambwala is now the latest of a string of academy graduates to be granted their first-team breakthroughs by Erik ten Hag. Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo have become mainstays in the starting 11 at just 19 years old and 18 years old respectively, while the likes of Dan Gore and Omari Forson were also awarded their senior debuts this season.

After receiving plaudits across the board for his mature showing, United quickly began drawing up plans to ensure they keep Kambwala in their ranks for the foreseeable future. His current deal is set to expire in 2025, and one report has suggested that Napoli have set their sights on the young Frenchman as a potential Kim Min-jae successor.

The latest on Kambwala’s future

GiveMeSport claims that United ‘want to eliminate the risk of a suitor identifying a potential opportunity to pounce for a cut-price fee’.

They add: “GMS sources have been informed that key Red Devils figures are confident that the centre-back has a bright future ahead of him, having witnessed his development in the youth system after spending the early stages of his career with French outfit Sochaux, and are desperate to end uncertainty over his long-term future by agreeing fresh terms.”