Manchester United open talks with Bayern Munich for new defender

Manchester United are interested in signing Jerome Boateng from Bayern Munich but will not match their £45m valuation, claims The Daily Mail.

Jose Mourinho is desperate to sign a new centre-back before Thursday’s transfer deadline and United have been linked with a number of defenders across Europe. 

United are reportedly targeting Premier League duo Toby Alderweireld and Harry Maguire, while Barcelona’s Yerry Mina is also a possibility.

Mourinho is a huge admirer of Boateng and United held initial talks with their German counterparts after their friendly on Sunday evening.

Boateng is free to leave Bayern this summer but United would like to drive down the £45m asking price for the 29-year-old.

United are currently at a crossroads with Anthony Martial and had hoped to send the France international to Bayern, but the Bundesliga side confirmed last week they were not interested in the 22-year-old.

Boateng has spent the last seven years at Bayern but has only started 46 of their last 102 league matches after struggling for form and fitness.

In that time, Bayern won 82.6% of the matches Boateng started, compared to a win ratio of 75% when he did not feature from the off.