There is a seldom a Manchester United transfer rumour these days that does not involve Bayern Munich.
The Red Devils are closing in on a deal that would see Erik ten Hag reunite with his former Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt. The Dutchman is, of course, currently contracted to the Bundesliga giants.
Manchester United’s purchase of Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna, meanwhile, will earn Bayern a mini windfall due to a sell-on clause in the striker’s contract.
Bayern have also been linked with Manuel Ugarte – the Paris Saint-Germain enforcer who appears to have emerged as Man United’s leading midfield target.
And, after months of speculation linking Michael Olise with a move to Old Trafford, the Frenchman sealed a £50 million move to, yes you guessed, it Bayern Munich last weekend.
So of course Man United’s pursuit of Rennes wonderkid Desire Doue has just been complicated by the presence of the Allianz Arena outfit, Vincent Kompany’s side poking their nose in and attempting to snatch the teenager away from their former reserve team coach Erik ten Hag.
Manchester United face another Bayern Munich battle
According to The Sun, Man United had hoped to secure a deal for Doue ‘immediately’.
The Red Devils are perhaps likely to step up their pursuit once Mason Greenwood’s proposed £27 million move to Marseille is rubber-stamped.
United will be hoping, then, that Bayern do not already have Doue through the door before Greenwood is posing for photos at the Stade Velodrome.
Earlier this week, Rennes director Frederic Massara insisted that there were ‘no discussions’ currently underway with any club. That, however, appears to have changed.
According to Le Parisien and Fabrizio Romano, Bayern have submitted an opening bid to take Doue away from Roazhon Park. Fortunately for Man United, Rennes rejected that £30 million offer.
But with Doue already on the radars of Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and co, United could have done without another Euro giant throwing their name into the frame and sparking what could quickly turn into a fierce bidding war for a much-coveted young forward.
German giants have already snatched Michael Olise
While Olise is at his most effective cutting in from the left in a manner reminiscent of Bayern legend Arjen Robben in his FC Hollywood pomp, the versatile Doue is comfortable on either flank as well as through the middle.
Both wingers would mark an overhaul of Bayern’s wide options, Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman recently falling short of the sky-high standards they set during that 2020 treble-winning campaign under Hansi Flick.
“The talks with FC Bayern were very positive,” Olise told the club’s website during his unveiling. “I’m very happy to now be playing for such a big club.
“It’s a great challenge, and that’s exactly what I was looking for. I want to prove myself at this level and play my part in ensuring that we win as many titles as possible with our team in the coming years.”
“Michael Olise is a player who can make the difference and attracted great interest with his style of play,” board member Max Eberl adds, United just one of a number of clubs who had expressed an interest.
“We want new impetus in our team, new energy, new ideas – that’s what players like Michael Olise stand for. During the talks, he quickly signalled that he really wanted to join FC Bayern. We’re very much looking forward to him.
“He will enrich our game.”
- READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
