• Transfer News

United to battle for Konoplyanka

Yevhen Konoplyanka was on the verge of a move to Liverpool in January © Getty Images

Enlarge

Manchester United are interested in Ukraine winger Yevhen Konoplyanka but face competition for his signature from Arsenal and Tottenham, as well as big-spending Paris Saint-Germain.

A source told ESPN that scouts from Old Trafford have gone to watch the 24-year-old, who has a £12 million buyout clause in his contract with Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk.

Konoplyanka is not new United manager Louis van Gaal's top target as he looks to strengthen his forward options but he does figure on the Dutchman's shortlist of prospective recruits.

Cut-price Fellaini available

Marouane Fellaini has failed to score in 21 Manchester United appearances © Getty Images

• Manchester United will listen to offers of around £15 million for Marouane Fellaini this summer, just nine months after making the midfielder the club's fourth most expensive signing of all time.
• Meanwhile, Luke Shaw has told Southampton that he wants to move to Old Trafford.
• Click here to continue reading

The Ukraine international almost joined Liverpool in January when chief executive Ian Ayre travelled to Ukraine to try and tie up a deal, but the move broke down at the end of the transfer window.

Brendan Rodgers retains an interest in Konoplyanka but Liverpool have not made a new bid as the Premier League runners-up pursue Southampton captain Adam Lallana instead.

Spurs are keen on Konoplyanka while Arsenal are also monitoring his situation and two of the Bundesliga's bigger clubs are eager to sign him but are yet to raise the funds necessary for the transfer.

But United's biggest competition will come from Paris Saint-Germain, for whom money remains no object, want to add him to their star-studded squad and are the likeliest to trigger his buyout clause, which could force the English and German clubs into a decision whether they want to do likewise or risk seeing him join the French champions.

The ambitious Konoplyanka is keen to play for one of Europe's major clubs and Dnipro have been preparing for his departure.

Sporting director Andrey Stetsenko was quoted in the Guardian last month as saying: "Our scouts are working to find his replacement. Sooner or later Konoplyanka will leave Dnipro.

"We know that English, Spanish and German clubs are monitoring the situation and are interested in the player. But we have had no offers. His contract has a buyout clause worth €15m [£12m] for foreign clubs."

This article originally appeared on ESPN FC

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd