Manchester United have reportedly joined Real Madrid in the race to sign Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies.

The jet-heeled left-back will be out of contract at the end of the season and can sign a pre-contract agreement with a European club from January onwards before moving on a free transfer this summer. Despite experiencing some fitness issues in recent years, Davies remains one of the best left-backs in world football.

The prospect of signing such a talented player without the cost of a transfer fee has attracted the interest of several elite teams. Manchester United are the latest side to put their hat into the ring, according to Sky Sport Germany’s Florian Plettenberg.

United have scouted the 23-year-old, but are not overly confident of winning the competitive race for his signature. Erik ten Hag’s side have also been linked with two other Bayern Munich players, Leon Goretzka and Leroy Sane, after luring a pair of players away from the Bavarian giants during the summer.

Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui both swapped Munich for Manchester in August. The duo had also worked under Ten Hag at Ajax in the Eredivisie, a common trait among the club’s signings during the Dutchman’s tenure which Davies does not share.

Real Madrid’s interest in Davies is well-documented. The Spanish and European champions have been trailing the Canada international since at least November 2023. Madrid reportedly reached a verbal agreement to sign Davies last February, prompting showdown talks with Bayern over a potential contract extension.

The Bundesliga giants issued a clear ultimatum in March after tabling an offer of between €13m and €14m in terms of annual salary – which fell some way short of Davies’ demands of €20m. Plettenberg revealed that no subsequent offer has been made by Bayern but the club are still open to further contract negotiations.

If Davies does not extend his deal, Real Madrid reportedly remain the player’s preferred destination.

FC Bayern’s ‘Roadrunner’, to use the nickname which Thomas Muller gave him, is not the only left-back who has attracted admiring glances from Real Madrid and Manchester United. The former Red Devils defender Alvaro Carreras, who has impressed for Benfica this season, is the subject of interest from the aforementioned pair as well as Liverpool and Barcelona.

Unlike Davies, an approach for Carreras would require a fee – although United have the advantage of a cut-price buy-back clause which the club cleverly included when agreeing the deal to sell him to Benfica last summer.

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