New Man Utd appointment hands them advantage in transfer race for Premier League star
Manchester United could be in pole position to sign Fulham ace Tosin Adarabioyo.
The defender is out of contract in the summer and attracting plenty of attention. But his links with United’s new technical director Jason Wilcox, who worked with Adarabioyo at Manchester City, may give the Red Devils a upper hand in negotiations. The 26 year-old is set to be available on a free transfer with Newcastle, Chelsea and Tottenham all potentially in the market for his services.
Adarabioyo had made 20 Premier League appearances this term and, according to ESPN, United are hopeful of tying him down. The former England youth international joined Fulham from City, where he played under Wilcox in the academy, for £2m in 2020.
He played just a handful of first-team games for Pep Guardiola’s side and never featured in the Premier League but has blossomed in London. United are on the search for a new centre-half with uncertainty around the future of Raphaël Varane, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelöf and Jonny Evans.
With a raft of defensive deficiencies blighting Erik ten Hag’s under-performing side, it’s little wonder they are looking to solidify and Adarabioyo is seen as somebody who could augment their leaky back play.
Fulham boss Marco Silva has already confirmed the defender looks set to leave Craven Cottage at the end of the season, after failing to agree terms on a new deal. He said: “Tosin has to be clear about his future when he decides to be clear about his future, and he has to talk about it.
“Of course we are here to try to prepare as best we can the future of the football club. We haven’t hidden that situation that we try to renew with him, not just him but other players near the end of their contracts and it’s not been easy.
Jason Wilcox, Man United’s new technical director
“Probably his future is not going to be at the club any more. About that situation, if one day Tosin wants to speak he’s going to speak.”
United sit eighth and a massive 13 points off the top-four after yet another campaign of under-achieving, something new co-owner Jim Ratcliffe is keen to quickly address. In more positive news for Ratcliffe and under-fire manager Ten Hag, Lisandro Martinez is set to make his long-awaited return from injury.
The Argentina international has made just 11 appearances this season and has not played since the 1-1 draw at Brentford on March 30. He has now recovered from a calf strain suffered in training and is back in full training ahead of the visit of Arsenal to Old Trafford on Sunday.
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