Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann gives Manchester United bad news

Manchester United want Leon Goretzka to become a fixture in their midfield, but Bayern have no intention of letting the classy player leave. 

The potential departure of Paul Pogba has Manchester United eyeing a variety of possible midfield replacements. Officials at Old Trafford see Leon Goretzka as an ideal replacement, but the latest news from Bayern Munich makes it clear that the German ace is much more likely to stay in the Bundesliga.

New Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann acknowledges that Goretzka’s current contract is set to expire, but despite that fact, he remains “confident” that he’ll sign a new deal with the club in the coming weeks. If Goretzka does elect to recommit his future to the German giants it will end United’s realistic chances to sign the player for the foreseeable future.

If United are going to land Goretzka they need the player to make it clear that a move to England is his preference. There’s no chance Bayern are going to let him go if they believe he wants to remain in Germany. After all, he’s a regular member of their starting XI and is squarely in his prime at just 26 years of age.

So what will happen with Goretzka?

The simplest answer is frequently the right answer and that seems to be the case here. Nagelsmann is very close to the Goretzka situation and there’s no reason to doubt his assessment of the matter. The most likely outcome is that Goretzka will ink a new deal with Bayern sometime in the next several months.

United would be wise to shift their focus to other targets. Goretzka would be a great addition to their midfield, but he’s not the only European star who can help replace Pogba at Old Trafford.

In particular, United would be smart to hone in on more defensive targets. The presence of Bruno Fernandes requires Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to balance out his midfield with more disciplined players. Losing out on Goretzka is a blow to United, but certainly not a fatal one.