---
title: "Manchester United ‘in contact’ with Bundesliga side over summer signing of “one the best young centre-backs” in Europe"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/man-utd-castello-lukeba-transfer-contact-leipzig/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Barnaby Lane"
section: "Manchester United Transfer Rumours"
published: "2026-04-10T20:00:00Z"
modified: "2026-04-10T20:00:00Z"
---

# Manchester United ‘in contact’ with Bundesliga side over summer signing of “one the best young centre-backs” in Europe

The Bundesliga continues to establish itself as one of the premier breeding grounds for elite young talent.

From Bayern Munich’s record-breaking teenage midfielder Lennart Karl to FC Köln winger Saïd El Mala and Eintracht Frankfurt’s highly-rated playmaker Can Uzun, Germany’s top flight is packed with emerging stars catching the attention of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Now, it appears [Manchester United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-united-transfer-rumours/) are looking to tap into that market once again, with early groundwork already underway for one of the league’s most sought-after young defenders.

## **Man Utd ‘In Contact’ Over Lukeba**

Manchester United have made contact with RB Leipzig over a potential summer move for centre-back Castello Lukeba, as they explore defensive reinforcements.

The 23-year-old Frenchman, described as [“one of the best young centre-backs in the Bundesliga and Europe”](https://www.transfermarkt.com/the-next-josko-gvardiol-why-real-madrid-and-chelsea-want-leipzig-sensation-castello-lukeba/view/news/446417) by Transfermarkt expert Tobias Kröger, has impressed since joining Leipzig in 2023. With both player and club now aligned on a summer departure, interest from across the Premier League has intensified.

United are among the clubs who have been in touch via intermediaries, gathering information on a possible deal, [according to TEAMtalk](https://www.teamtalk.com/news/leipzig-agree-castello-lukeba-exit-spark-massive-premier-league-scramble-sources).

While Lukeba has a release clause of around £70 million, Leipzig are believed to be open to offers closer to £55 million — a figure that has alerted several top English sides.

The Red Devils have tracked Lukeba for some time and see him as a strong long-term addition to their back line. Although [Harry Maguire](https://manunews.com/blog/man-utd-predicted-lineup-vs-leeds-2/) has recently committed his future to the club, United are still expected to bring in another central defender as part of their summer rebuild. That said, strengthening at left-back remains a more immediate priority.

United’s interest in Lukeba underlines their intent to invest in young, high-potential defenders, but they are far from alone in the race.

With multiple Premier League rivals circling and Leipzig open to a deal, the coming months could prove decisive — and if United want to land one of Europe’s top emerging centre-backs, they may need to move quickly.