Man Utd close in on third summer transfer as EPL rivals' deal collapses

Manchester United are closing in on a £20million deal for Bayern Munich defender Noussair Mazraoui.

United are understood to have agreed personal terms with the Morocco international and are finalising a fee with Bayern to conclude the deal. The proposed deal would see United pay around £15m for Mazraoui, with a further £5m payable upon the completion of add-ons contained within the agreement.

West Ham's hopes of signing Mazraoui were dashed when they could not close a deal, leaving the way clear for United to sign the 26-year-old full-back. United must first offload Aaron Wan-Bissaka before signing Mazraoui and are hopeful West Ham will pay the £15m they want for the right-back, who cost them £50m from Crystal Palace five years ago.

Mazraoui would become United's third senior signing this summer. Joshua Zirkzee joined United from Bologna for £36.5m, with Leny Yoro following from Lille in a deal worth an initial £52m.

The Dutch-born Morocco star came through the Ajax academy when Ten Hag was manager of the Amsterdam club, making his Eredivisie debut shortly after his 20th birthday. He scored his first senior goal during Ajax's run to the Champions League semi-finals in the 2018-19 season, netting against Bayern Munich and Benfica in the group stage.

Mazraoui moved to Bayern on a free transfer in 2022, with Ajax team-mate Ryan Gravenberch joining Bayern in the same window. However, neither was able to hold down a regular first-team place.

Gravenberch left the Allianz Arena last summer, joining Liverpool towards the end of the transfer window. Now Mazraoui, a World Cup semi-finalist with Morocco in 2022, looks poised to join his former colleague in the Premier League.

United took on Arsenal in their latest pre-season friendly over the weekend, losing 2-1 but winning a post-match penalty shoot-out which was slated to follow regardless of the scoreline. However, the game was marred by injuries to Yoro and to Rasmus Hojlund.

"Of course it is too short [to know about their injuries] and we have to wait over 24 hours, then we will hopefully know more," Ten Hag told club media. "We were careful especially with Leny [Yoro] as he only did 50 per cent of the [training] sessions. He has to come up but let's be positive and see what comes out."

Next up for United is a friendly against Real Betis on July 31, with one more game in the US against Liverpool to follow. They will then return to the UK for the Community Shield against Manchester City, which will take place at Wembley on August 10.