Man United 'suffer transfer blow as Goretzka agrees to a new Bayern contract'

Manchester United may have been dealt a blow in their quest to buy a new central midfielder as Leon Goretzka is reportedly set to sign a new five-year deal with Bayern Munich.

Paul Pogba's future at the club is still uncertain, with United prepared to make the Frenchman their best-paid player in an attempt to get him to snub Paris Saint-Germain by offering him an eye-watering £400,000-a-week deal.

Goretzka, Saul Niguez and French teenage sensation Eduardo Camavinga have all been touted as potential arrivals throughout the summer should Pogba leave for Mauricio Pochettino's men, but it now appears that the Bundesliga champions have tied down the German until 2026, with Joshua Kimmich possibly following suit, according to Munich-based reporter Florian Plettenberg.

Plettenberg tweeted: 'News #Goretzka: Total agreement! He will sign a long-term contract in the next days. Probably until 2026 (like Kimmich).

'Salary around €15million (£13m)/year. Important deal for both sides. Goretzka says yes as always reported.'

After Germany were dumped out of Euro 2020 in the round of 16 by England, Goretzka returned to Bayern duty under new boss Julian Nagelsmann, featuring in the first half of the 3-0 friendly defeat to Napoli on July 31.

He then played the full 90 minutes in the Bundesliga opener against Borussia Monchengladbach which finished 1-1, before helping Nagelsmann to his first win in charge, a 3-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund to secure the German Super Cup on Tuesday.

Saul, one of United's other targets, was singled out for praise by Red Devils legend Rio Ferdinand earlier this week.

Ferdinand lauded the Spaniard on his FIVE Youtube channel, saying: 'I think if the right player becomes available for the right price, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will go and get him.

'The problem is who is out there and who could be a good fit? Saul Niguez would be a perfect fit and he's asking price was £160m (€186m) a couple of years ago, now it's more like £40-50m (€47-58m).

'In today's game that's a decent price for someone like him who has Champions League experience. I'm a big fan of his. If you can get him in this window, I think you do it.'

After their 5-1 opening-game win over Leeds, Solskjaer's men take on Southampton on Saturday as they look to hang on to top spot in the embryonic Premier League table.

£73m man Jadon Sancho is in contention to make his full debut after coming off the bench against Marcelo Bielsa's side, while Raphael Varane could make his first appearance for the club since joining from Real Madrid and Edinson Cavani may return after being handed an extended break by United to be with his family following the Copa America.