Manchester United enter the race for the Premier League’s Super Eagles eligible star

Manchester United are reportedly keen to sign Super Eagles-eligible centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo in the summer. The Red Devils are aiming to overhaul their defense ahead of next season and have identified the Fulham defender as a fit.

Adarabioyo has played in the Premier League for the past three and a half years since joining the Cottagers from Manchester City in October 2020. The 26-year-old joined Manchester City’s academy at the age of five and spent 18 years. years with the Cityzens before seeking pastures again due to a lack of first team opportunities.

Having been on loan at West Bromwich Albion and Blackburn Rovers, Adarabioyo decided to leave Manchester City with a year left on his contract and has since established himself as a regular at Fulham.

The defender has made over 100 appearances for the Cottagers and has become a key player under manager Marco Silva as he has helped Fulham maintain their Premier League status over the past four years.

Manchester United could sign Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer

Adarabioyo has once again enjoyed an impressive campaign this term, making 25 appearances in all competitions, scoring two goals. His outstanding displays have led to links with some Premier League clubs including Newcastle United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.

However, the latest reports suggest that Manchester United have also entered the race for the centre-back’s signature. ESPN reports that Erik ten Hag’s side have identified Adarabioyo as a player who could provide huge support to the club’s defense and will push to sign him on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of the season.

The former England youth international has so far refused to sign a contract extension at Fulham, with his current deal set to expire in June. Manchester United regard Adarabioyo as an ideal footballer who will fit in with the progressive style that new owner Sir Kim Ratcliffe wants to instill at the club.

Adarabioyo was described as “quick, strong in the air and (has) the quality to look forward behind the line for the next pass” by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola during his time at the Blues. The defender is also well known by Manchester United. new technical director Jason Wilcox, who worked with Adarabioyo at Manchester City’s academy before joining Southampton as director of football.

Now at Manchester United, Wilcox is set to lead the overhaul of the club’s aging and injury-prone defence, with Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans set to leave at the end of the season after their contracts expire. The Red Devils are also said to be open to selling one of Harry Maguire or Victor Lindelof, which would pave the way for new arrivals like Adarabioyo.

Fulham are resigned to losing Tosin Adarabioyo in the summer

Meanwhile, Fulham are resigned to losing their defender after numerous attempts to sign a new deal proved futile. Adarabioyo signed a one-year contract extension in January 2023 but is determined to leave on a free when his current contract expires in the summer.

Fulham boss Marco Silva recently confirmed that the defender may not be at the club next season, insisting that trying to convince him to extend his contract has not been easy.

“Tosin needs to be clear about his future when he decides to be clear about his future and he needs to talk about it. Of course, we are here to try to prepare the future of the football club as best we can,” said Silva, as quoted by The Standard.

“We have not hidden that situation that we are trying to renew with him, not only him but also other players near the end of the contract and it was not easy. His future will probably not be at the club. About that situation, if one day Tosin wants to talk, he will. At the moment we are focusing on Brentford, (Manchester) City and Luton. I want everyone focused, and Tosin is one of them.”

Marco Silva explains Adarabioyo’s recent omission from the Fulham squad

Adarabioyo’s reluctance to put pen to paper on a new deal could also have cost him a place in the squad after he was left out of Fulham’s last two Premier League games. The Cottagers are already guaranteed to finish above the relegation zone but could still finish in the top half of the table if they win their last two games.

Adarabioyo’s last game for the club, however, came in the 3-1 defeat at the hands of Liverpool on 21 April, and he was not even on the bench for the games against Crystal Palace and Brentford. While some have suggested Silva is punishing the centre-back for refusing to sign a new contract, the Fulham manager insists his omission is a purely technical decision.

“Last week my decision was a technical decision. I know all the buzz around him and his future, of course. Of course I spoke to him, I have a very close relationship like all the players and everything is clear between me and him, like all the other players, and from him to me and my staff,” Silva told The Standard .

“If Tosin is going to be on the pitch, he’s going to be on the pitch, he’s going to be in the team if I decide for him to be in the team. Nothing has changed since last week.

“When the news starts to come that he won’t be with us next season, I know what he told me, I prefer to keep it between us. Of course, this is a player decision. But other than that, Tosin is ready to play or be in the team if they decide to have him there.” Adarabioyo was born in Manchester and has represented England at youth level, but is still eligible to play for Nigeria, having never been capped by the Three Lions.