Sir Jim Ratcliffe is gearing up to make his first Manchester United signings (Image: Getty Images)
Many players playing for their countries this summer have been linked to Manchester United, but one new player has emerged following an outstanding Euros campaign.
Following a standout Euro 2024 campaign, Manchester United has expressed interest in Switzerland’s Dan Ndoye, a winger.
The twenty-three-year-old, who plays professional football for Bologna, was not selected for Switzerland’s 2022 World Cup team but is currently with Murat Yakin’s squad in Germany. Switzerland finished second in the group, one goal behind the hosts, whom he scored in a 1-1 draw. He started all three of the group matches.
If Ndoye were to sign with United, it would be his second signing for a team led by Jim Ratcliffe. The teenage player was brought to Nice in 2019 by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a part-owner of the Premier League team, after Ndoye advanced through the ranks at Lausanne-Sport, another club in his portfolio.
After that stint in France, he went back to Switzerland and joined Basel before transferring to his current club, Bologna, in 2023. Last season, he made 32 appearances in Serie A and scored in a late-season victory over Napoli to help the team qualify for the Champions League.
After making an impression against Germany, Ndoye has ‘entered United’s sights,’ according to Sky Italy. His early goal put Switzerland in a position to win Group A, but Niclas Fullkrug gave Julian Nagelsmann’s team a late equaliser.
Ndoye is reportedly being considered by a number of Italian teams. Among them is Inter Milan, the 2023–24 champions, who have a number of players scheduled to depart this summer, including Manchester United attacker Alexis Sanchez.
Bologna signed Ndoye from Basel for just over £7 million. Even though there hasn’t been a price indicated for a sale, England and Italy’s interest might enable them to turn a healthy profit should they decide to sell.
Dan Ndoye scored for Switzerland in their draw with Germany ( Image: Getty Images)
This summer, Ndoye is not the only foreign celebrity connected to United. Joao Neves, a young player from Portugal, has long been touted as a possible addition, while Jonathan David, a striker from Canada who is now participating in the Copa America, is still being linked.
However, Jean-Clair Todibo is unlikely to be moving to Old Trafford. The French defender is currently at Nice, and there have been rumours that Ratcliffe insulted UEFA for impeding a transfer between the two teams in remarks that he made.
Ratcliffe told Bloomberg, “They’ve said we can sell him to another Premiership club, but we can’t sell to Manchester United.” “But I don’t see what that achieves, and it’s unfair to the player.”
