Manchester United fans have been sent into a frenzy after manager Erik ten Hag refused to rule out a summer move for Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe and Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham.
Speaking to a fan outside United’s training ground, the Dutchman said: “Mbappe? And Bellingham? Why not?” The comments quickly went viral on social media, with United supporters excited by the prospect of their club making a big splash in the transfer market.
However, it remains to be seen whether the Red Devils can afford to sign both players, with Mbappe likely to command a fee in excess of £100 million and Bellingham reportedly valued at £130 million by Dortmund.
Ten Hag has previously spoken about his desire to strengthen the United squad, noting the “lack of quality” at his disposal earlier this season. He has also indicated that he wants to have two top players in every position to compete across various competitions.
United are expected to make wholesale changes in the summer transfer window, with the club reportedly in talks to appoint Chris Hargreaves as their new director of football negotiations. Hargreaves, a former Adidas executive, has worked closely with Bellingham in the past and could help United secure the highly-rated midfielder’s signature.
However, United will likely face stiff competition for both Mbappe and Bellingham, with Real Madrid also rumored to be interested in the young stars. Reports suggest that the Spanish giants have a “direct” line of communication with Bellingham and are sending officials to Germany to try to convince him to join the club.
Meanwhile, Mbappe has been linked with a move to several top European clubs, including Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Manchester City.
If United can pull off a double swoop for Mbappe and Bellingham, it would represent a major coup for the club and could help them close the gap on rivals Manchester City in the Premier League title race. However, given the high transfer fees involved and the level of competition for the players, it remains to be seen whether United can make their fans’ dreams a reality.
