Manchester United keen on Kjaer capture this summer

Manchester United are reportedly set for another big spending summer as a return to Champions League football edges closer, and Lille’s Simon Kjaer is the latest centre back outlined as a possible arrival at Old Trafford.

Louis van Gaal’s Red Devils, who are 9/4 with Coral to finish outside the top four, will be keen to secure the signing of a talented defender to sure up their backline for that seemingly likely return to Europe’s elite club competition.

With a modest £11m price-tag, Denmark international Kjaer could be the man to boost United’s rear-guard, with top-flight rivals Liverpool and Serie A champions Juventus having also expressed an interest in acquiring his services.

Mats Hummels has been heavily linked with a switch to the red half of Manchester from Borussia Dortmund but, with the World Cup-winning defender valued at such a substantial fee, Van Gaal may look to a cheaper option, freeing up his available funds for midfield targets instead.

Lille’s dominant defender Kjaer is the lesser valued choice, but certainly not an inferior talent, with his impressive Ligue 1 outings this current campaign capturing the attention of many top European clubs.

A potential £11m move to Old Trafford would make the 26-year-old the most expensive Danish player of all time, eclipsing Christian Eriksen’s move to Tottenham from Dutch giants Ajax in 2013.

However, Kjaer is a determined defender and has declared his interest in joining a club that see’s him as a regular contributor in their team.

“I’ll only leave if a top club wants me, this season or next. Otherwise there is no reason to leave a club of Lille’s means,” he said

“If I do leave, stability will be important. The clubs who want me will need to show that they intend to rely on me in the long term.