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Manchester United made contact to discuss a summer move for Paris Saint-Germain defender Presnel Kimpembe, according to a report.
The France international was strongly linked with an exit from the Parc des Princes over the summer, with Chelsea thought to be one of the interested parties.
The Blues eventually struck deals for Kalidou Koulibaly, Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana instead, as Kimpembe remained at the Parc des Princes for another season.
The 27-year-old has joined forces with Sergio Ramos and Marquinhos in Christophe Galtier’s back three this term, making eight appearances before sustaining a hamstring injury.
Kimpembe is only under contract at the Parc des Princes until 2024 – leading to speculation over a possible cut-price exit – but PSG’s failure to sign a replacement saw him stay put.
As well as Chelsea, Le 10 Sport claims that Man United also showed an interest in signing the centre-back alongside Juventus, who lost Matthijs de Ligt to Bayern Munich this summer.
However, neither club are believed to have progressed as far as Chelsea in negotiations, and Man United quickly ended their pursuit of the Frenchman.
Kimpembe initially joined PSG’s academy in 2005 and has since struck three goals and three assists in 229 appearances for Les Parisiens since being promoted to the senior team.
The centre-back won his sixth Ligue 1 title with the capital club last summer and has also collected five Coupe de France crowns, four Coupe de la Ligues and six Trophee des Champions awards.
Kimpembe – a World Cup and Nations League champion with France – was ruled out for six weeks earlier this month after suffering a hamstring injury against Brest on September 10, and talks over a new deal for the defender are said to be in the works.
PSG football advisor Luis Campos is said to have met with Kimpembe near the end of the summer transfer window, during which the pair held informal talks over a contract renewal.
Kimpembe’s representatives are yet to receive a concrete offer of an extension, but the France international can supposedly expect negotiations to progress in the coming weeks or months.
With Kimpembe staying put in his homeland, Man United ousted Arsenal in the race to sign Lisandro Martinez from Ajax, and the Argentina international has formed an effective partnership with Raphael Varane.
Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof have been relegated to the bench as a result, while Eric Bailly joined Kimpembe in Ligue 1 as he was loaned out to Marseille.
Man United will aim to make it five Premier League wins in a row when they meet Manchester City at Old Trafford in Sunday’s Manchester derby, where Maguire could reportedly miss out with a hamstring injury sustained on England duty.
