Manchester United have reportedly received a major boost in their pursuit of signing Inter Milan's Denzel Dumfries after the Serie A side set a 'reasonable asking price' for their star defender.
Dumfries is approaching the conclusion of his third season with Inter after joining from PSV Eindhoven for a fee of around £11m plus add-ons back in 2021.
During his time with the Nerazzurri, the highly-rated Dutchman has played a pivotal role in helping the the Serie A giants secure back-to-back Coppa Italia titles.
So far this season, Dumfries has appeared in 29 league games for the Scudetto-winning Inter side and has directly contributed to eight goals.
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Man Utd eyeing up summer move for Denzel Dumfries
However, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Dumfries is 'heading towards the exit' at the San Siro, with the Premier League emerging as the 'most attractive' option for the Netherlands international.
The report adds that the Serie A outfit have set a £26m asking price for the 28-year-old, and with little discussion of a contract renewal between Dumfries and Inter, a move this summer appears increasingly probable.
Man United's interest in Dumfries dates back to January 2023, and they are believed to be considering a new offer for the player, who is approaching the final 12 months of his current contract.
Red Bull Salzburg full-back Amar Dedic, valued at approximately £17m, has reportedly been identified as a potential replacement for Dumfries in Simone Inzaghi's squad.
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United to prioritise bringing in defensive cover in the summer
Adding defensive cover is one of the main targets that manager Erik ten Hag will seek to address this summer if he continues in the role amidst increasing pressure. His side have only won two of their last 10 matches in all competitions.
United have faced major difficulties in defence this season with Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Harry Maguire all suffering injuries at various points in the campaign.
Diogo Dalot has frequently started for Man Utd in the right-back position under Ten Hag, but his performances have been inconsistent, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka's future at the club is still uncertain.
The Red Devils have also been linked with a move for newly-crowned Bundesliga champion Jeremie Frimpong ahead of the summer transfer window.
Ten Hag's side are currently in eighth place in the Premier League standings heading into the final league game of the campaign, but they will have a chance to earn silverware when they face cross-town rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final on May 25.
Devesh Jaganath
