Report: Liverpool could be set to battle Man United for €40m defender

Liverpool’s interest feels understandable when viewed through the wider context of their squad evolution.

There is still quality and leadership in the defensive department, but recruitment teams are clearly looking beyond immediate needs and towards the next cycle of the team. Kalulu’s profile fits modern Liverpool thinking neatly. Athletic, technically secure and comfortable defending large spaces, he appears suited to the demands of aggressive pressing systems.

The report from Caught Offside notes that Liverpool continue to monitor the Frenchman “closely as one of their top defensive targets”.

That wording matters. Clubs do not invest heavily in repeated scouting assignments unless genuine interest exists.

Kalulu also offers versatility. He can operate centrally or at right back, an increasingly valuable quality as fixture congestion grows and tactical adjustments become more frequent across European competition.

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Manchester United Continue Summer Rebuild

For Manchester United, defensive recruitment has become less about luxury and more about necessity.

Injuries, inconsistency and uncertainty around long-term planning have repeatedly disrupted stability at the back over recent seasons. Kalulu’s composure and mobility would naturally appeal to a club trying to modernise its defensive structure.

“There is not yet a clear frontrunner out of Liverpool or Man United, but both clubs are making a defensive signing a top priority this summer.”

That line captures the current landscape well. This feels like a market opportunity both clubs recognise early, even if neither has fully committed to forcing negotiations with Juventus.

United supporters may also look at Kalulu’s Serie A experience and see a defender capable of handling pressure environments. Juventus remains one of football’s most scrutinised institutions, where every mistake becomes amplified quickly.

That education matters.

Juventus Determined to Protect Valuable Asset

Juventus appear eager to avoid losing control of the situation.

Reports suggesting a proposed contract extension until 2030, including improved salary terms, underline how highly the club rate Kalulu internally. Such moves are often designed both to reward the player and strengthen negotiating power against external interest.

Still, football economics have a habit of shifting priorities.

Sources referenced in the original report believe Juventus could reconsider for a fee around €40m, especially if contract discussions stall. In modern Premier League terms, that valuation may even appear reasonable for a player entering his prime years.

Aston Villa’s involvement adds another intriguing dimension. Villa’s recruitment over recent windows has been ambitious and intelligent, but Financial Fair Play concerns inevitably complicate deals at this level unless significant departures occur first.

Kalulu’s situation therefore feels delicately balanced. Juventus want to keep him, Premier League clubs sense opportunity and the player himself now sits at the centre of one of the summer’s more fascinating defensive transfer stories.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

Kalulu looks exactly the type of signing Liverpool supporters have come to expect from the club’s recruitment model. He is entering his prime, tactically versatile and experienced at elite level without carrying the inflated fee attached to more established names. Liverpool fans would likely trust the scouting process here because this feels like a calculated football decision rather than a reactive transfer.

Manchester United supporters may see the situation slightly differently. There is excitement about Kalulu’s athleticism and composure, but also understandable caution after several expensive defensive rebuilds in recent years. Fans want defenders capable of transforming the mentality of the back line, not simply adding depth.

For both sets of supporters, the attraction is obvious. Kalulu appears adaptable enough for Premier League football and young enough to improve further. At €40m, this increasingly resembles one of those deals that could look a bargain in two or three seasons if handled correctly.