- Manchester United eye up new left-back
- Captain of RB Leipzig
- Has just 14 months left on his contract
Manchester United have reportedly set their sights on RB Leipzig left-back David Raum, as they look to beat Liverpool to the Merseysiders’ potential Andy Robertson replacement.
Whilst both North-West clubs hold an interest in Ivorian winger Yan Diomande, Raum presents the more attainable option from Leipzig. Both sides already possess strong options at left-back, but United want a long-term successor to Luke Shaw.
Milos Kerkez has looked inconsistent at times for Liverpool since his £40 million move from AFC Bournemouth in the summer. As a result, their attention has now shifted towards Leipzig captain Raum.
Manchester United and Liverpool’s Raum Race
Graeme Bailey of TEAMtalk has delved into the situation regarding United and Liverpool’s interest in Raum. He claims that his performances in the Bundesliga haven’t gone unnoticed:
“Sources have confirmed that Leipzig captain David Raum has also emerged as a player of significant interest to both Premier League giants in recent months. The German international left-back has been in outstanding form this season and delivered a Player of the Match performance in the weekend victory – a display that did not go unnoticed by watching scouts.”
He added:
“His emergence as a target is particularly timely, with both Premier League rivals actively looking to strengthen in his position.”
One of the most attractive aspects of Raum is that he has just 14 months left on his contract. Whilst that does not allow him to open negotiations with United—a rule reserved for players with six months or less remaining on their contracts—it will still drive his price down significantly.
Raum has spent his entire career in Germany, featuring predominantly for SpVgg Greuther Fürth and RB Leipzig. At Leipzig, he has made 141 appearances, scoring seven goals and providing 29 assists.
His trophy cabinet remains relatively modest, with a DFB-Pokal and a DFL-Supercup to his name, while he also earned a place in the 2021/22 Bundesliga Team of the Season.
Raum’s versatility adds further value, with the German international having featured in seven different positions. Although he primarily operates at left-back and left midfield, he has also been deployed on the right, on either wing, as a second striker, and even as a centre-forward.
Raum Replacing Shaw?
The one key thing to note is that Raum is not the only left-back United are looking at. Alejandro Balde, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Nathaniel Brown are all shortlisted.
The four players all have positives and negatives, with a heavy pricetag included for many of them. It is unclear what Raum would cost United at this moment, but his market value is approximately £19 million.
He is, however, already 27 years of age. INEOS, so far, are yet to sign a single player for Manchester United over the age of 26. If push comes to shove, they may look to pick up Raum on the cheap, but they will likely look at other options first.
