Barcelona centre-back Mikayil Faye could reportedly be available for between €15m (£12.9m) and €20m (£17.1m) during this summer’s transfer window, with Manchester United and Arsenal both keen on him.
The 19-year-old’s professional career started with Croatian outfit NK Kustosija last year, before making the move to Barcelona B at the end of the 2022-23 campaign.
The defender is yet to make his first-team debut for Barcelona, but he has been training with the senior side of late and was on the bench for their recent La Liga matches with Mallorca and Las Palmas.
The Senegal international penned a four-year deal with the Catalan giants upon his arrival, but there is currently speculation surrounding his future at Camp Nou.
Man United are believed to have been scouting Faye in recent weeks, with the defender putting in a string of impressive performances for Barcelona B.
According to Calciomercato, there is also interest from Arsenal, with the Gunners keen to explore the possibility of securing his signature during this summer’s transfer window.
Faye’s contract is believed to have a release clause of €400m (£343m), but the report claims that offers of between €15m (£12.9m) and €20m (£17.1m) would likely be considered by Barcelona.
The reigning La Liga champions are working to sign both Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo this summer, with the pair proving to be important players since arriving on loan from Atletico Madrid and Manchester City respectively.
Barcelona will therefore be under pressure to make some sales this summer in order to balance the books, and Faye is expected to be available for transfer despite being a highly-rated defender.
Man United are expected to sign at least one centre-back this summer, but it is likely that two will be required due to the club’s issues in that area of the field.
Both Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans only have deals until the end of June, while the futures of Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire continue to be called into question.
There are also concerns over the fitness of Lisandro Martinez, with the Argentina international again on the sidelines due to a calf problem, and it has been a frustrating 12 months for him due to injury issues.
As it stands, Maguire is the team’s only senior centre-back available for selection, with Lindelof and Martinez both out for a month, while Varane and Evans were forced off injured against Chelsea on Thursday.
Willy Kambwala, 19, is therefore expected to be given the nod in the middle of the defence alongside Maguire for Sunday’s Premier League contest with division leaders Liverpool.
