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There are a number of markets you’d expect Manchester United to be looking at ahead of the summer transfer window.
Despite being burned by the struggles of Jadon Sancho, Shinji Kagawa and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the Bundesliga is still home to plenty of talent. Erik ten Hag‘s side are looking at potential centre-half signings in France, Italy and Portugal too, while the success of Lisandro Martinez and Andre Onana – if not Antony – open the door for further raids on the Eredivisie.
The Belgian market, however, is not one Manchester United have tended to dip their toes into. Only three Belgians – Romelu Lukaku, Adnan Januzaj and Marouane Fellaini – have ever represented the Red Devils.
The Premier League giants have also not signed a single player from the Jupiler League in the 21st century.
But could that be about to change?
Manchester United are scouting Cercle Brugge
According to technical director Rembert Vromant, Man United are one of a number of clubs who have sent scouts to watch Cercle Brugge in action, a team who have spent some time in the second tier of late now enjoying happier times and pursuing their best league finish since 2007.
“An average of 16 scouts come to watch every home match. I have seen the level of those scouts rise this season,” Vromant tells Het Laaste Nieuws, the interest in Cercle’s star players rising alongside their league position.
Cercle, the poor relations to Belgian giants Club Brugge, are currently fifth.
“Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham, Lens, Lille, Salzburg, Leverkusen, Ajax, Aston Villa… They don’t come only for our opponent, believe me,” Vromant adds. “We (have) very interesting players. A young, athletic type with a good mentality.”
Vromant does not confirm which clubs are watching which players. He believes that midfielder Alan Minda and forward Felipe Augusto ‘have a lot of potential’, however.
And with Man United in the market for a centre-forward, could the Red Devils be running the rule over a prolific number nine? One who, according to FootMercato, is already on the radar of Spurs and Borussia Dortmund amongst others?
Could Red Devils consider Kevin Denkey
“In England, Germany and France, teams want to go for (Kevin) Denkey,” Vromant admits. “From the calls I receive for him, I notice that he is very (admired) in the market.”
23-year-old Denkey, a Togo international, has already doubled his tally from the whole of last season. In just 31 games, Cercle Brugge’s talismanic number nine has 26 goals under his belt.
Denkey, in contrast to some of the more experienced and proven names on United’s radar, may be considered a rather left-field option. A risk, to put it simply.
But after averaging nearly a goal a game this season, and with a market value of around £17 million, Denkey may be a risk worth taking.