Manchester United Rumors: PSG Could Shock Red Devils With Swoop For Scoring Defender

Manchester United has competition for the signature of Porto star Alex Telles as Paris Saint-Germain revives its interest in landing the offensive-minded defender, a report from Portugal said.

With the transfer window nearing its deadline, United is hoping to bring in more notable additions, having signed only one player so far. Among the names recently linked to a move to Old Trafford was Porto's Telles, whose agent is said to have already made contact with the English club.

However, the Brazilian defender's move to the Premier League could be in jeopardy as Ligue 1 champion PSG is eyeing a swoop for Telles, Portuguese outlet O Jogo reported.

According to the report, a PSG crisis spawned by an injury and a suspension is forcing the French champion to find a solution, and the answer could be Telles, who was the club’s top target in the past.

PSG has had a rough start in the new campaign, which was only made worse by the Sept. 13 defeat to Marseille. Following an altercation in the second half, left-back Layvin Kurzawa has been banned for six matches.

Another setback occurred during the Wednesday, Sept. 16 Metz match when fellow left-back Juan Bernat suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury that could take him out for at least six months.

Club manager Thomas Tuchel is said to be “urgently” keen to solve the problems PSG is facing in the back department. Tuchel’s side sees Telles as a suitable player to fill the void.

But while the report said the French club has a “strong chance” of landing Telles, United is eager to close a five-year deal with the Brazilian player. Like PSG, the Red Devils want to bolster the left-back area, with Luke Shaw inconsistent and Brandon Williams a natural right-footer.

Telles’ agent flew to England to meet with United officials and discuss his client's transfer deal, Portuguese newspaper A Bola earlier reported. The interest was said to be mutual, with both parties keen on entering a negotiation.

Apart from Ole Gunnar Solskajer’s side, Telles has been on the radar of a number of Premier League clubs for quite some time. Chelsea and Manchester City were among those monitoring his situation.

Despite being a natural full-back, Telles has proven that he is also reliable in terms of scoring goals. In fact, he has become renowned for his offensive style of playing and was the second top goal scorer for Porto in the 2019/20 Primeira Liga campaign.