Man Utd on verge of cut-price £30.5m Kostas Manolas deal despite being urged to spend £100m on Kalidou Koulibaly

Red Devils are set to trigger the Greek defender's bargain release clause after defensive wobbles this term

Posted Thursday, January 10, 2019 by Thesun.co.uk

Man Utd on verge of cut-price £30.5m Kostas Manolas deal despite being urged to spend £100m on Kalidou Koulibaly
Man Utd are reportedly on the verge of signing Roma defender Kostas Manolas

MANCHESTER UNITED are closing on a ￡30.5million deal for Roma defender Kostas Manolas, according to reports.

It comes as Treble-winning defender David May urged United to splash ￡100m on long-term target Kalidou Koulibaly.

Roma have failed to extend the 27-year-old Greek's contract, which has a bargain ￡30.5million release clause.

The Red Devils have been targeting various centre-backs since last summer, including Toby Alderwiereld, Eder Militao and Koulibaly, in order to solve their on-going defensive issues.

And according to Marca, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is eventually getting his long-awaited defender as Manolas is on the verge of joining United.

The highly-rated defender has previously hinted at a move to a top European club, with Old Trafford being one of his preferred destinations.

Former United and Blackburn defender May, 48, said: "It’s only natural you want to play for the biggest clubs, like Barcelona, Man Utd, PSG and Bayern Munich.

"I think I could make the difference anywhere I went, even at Barcelona – although I have never spoken to them."

However, May — who spent six seasons at Old Trafford between 1988 and 1994 — thinks that United should aim higher and splash big money on Napoli's Koulibaly.

He argues that the club should follow the example set by Liverpool, who broke their transfer record to land Virgil Van Dijk, and sign the 27-year-old Senegalese in order to ease their defensive woes.

May told 888Sport: “If you look at United over the last God knows how many years, they’ve always gone out and broke transfer records if need be.

"They did with Rio, Di Maria, Pogba, Lukaku. They allegedly pay Sanchez half a million a week. If you want the best players then you have to pay top money for them. City do it.

"Liverpool did it with Van Dijk and just look at the transformation.

"They spent ￡70m on a goalkeeper, which is a hell of a lot of money, but what that gets you back is guaranteed Champions League football and the possibility of winning the Premier League.

“The amount of money United earn then to spend ￡100m on a defender….so what?

"Real Madrid will spend it. Barca will. Chelsea and City will. If it guarantees you a much better defence then go ahead and spend it.

"If Koulibaly becomes available – and there are rumours that he is interested with a fee of ￡90m – then I’m sure Ole would say he’d be a great signing for Man United.”