FC Twente centre-back attracts interest from Manchester United

Manchester United’s centre-back options have rarely looked as thin as they do heading into the Champions League trip to Como.

Leny Yoro is suspended after his red card against Atletico Madrid, and Lisandro Martinez is a doubt with a thigh problem picked up at Leeds.

Matthijs de Ligt has not started a game since November 2025, while Ayden Heaven missed the Leeds draw with illness.

That leaves Harry Maguire, 33 and in the final year of his contract, as the one fixture, and the club’s recruitment staff already know a rebuild is needed for 2027.

FC Twente centre-back attracts interest from Manchester United

The Athletic has revealed that Ruud Nijstad, an 18-year-old left-sided centre-half, is attracting interest from Europe’s big clubs, including United.

Ruud Nijstad plays for FC Twente, where Erik ten Hag is technical director.

The 6ft 2in left-footer was born in January 2008, has been at Twente since January 2025, and made 24 appearances last season.

This season he has played 11 times in all competitions, covering 995 minutes, with 8 Eredivisie starts and one goal.

He started the 3-2 win over PSV in September and the 1-0 Conference League win over Thun last week, before Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Utrecht.

Twente are fifth in the Eredivisie with 17 points from 9 games, having won 5, drawn 2 and lost 2, scoring 17 goals and conceding 10.

Barcelona are the other big name in the race, with Deco and Joao Amaral having travelled to the Netherlands twice to meet people close to the player.

Ten Hag flatly rejected an earlier Barcelona offer, and Twente are reportedly looking for around €10 million (£8.5 million).

Nijstad extended his contract in June until 2029, which strengthens Twente’s hand, and has said he dreams of playing alongside Pau Cubarsi at Barcelona.

Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Chelsea have also been credited with interest.

A ball-playing, left-footed centre-back is exactly the profile United have long sought alongside Maguire.

Having Ten Hag as the man deciding Twente’s response adds a fascinating subplot, given his own history at Old Trafford.