Manchester United will have to offer Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Denis Zakaria a €10-12m signing on bonus if they want to sign him on a free in the summer.
That’s according to Blick deputy editor-in-chief Andreas Böni, who has covered the situation around the midfielder as speculation about his future continues to ramp up.
Zakaria is out of contract at Gladbach in the summer and is looking increasingly likely to leave the club when his deal expires.
His performances for the German club have earned him rave reviews and, several big clubs in Europe are thought to be ken on his signature.
Manchester United are one of them, with numerous reports over the last week or putting them in the picture for his signature.
Earlier this month, it was stated they are ‘watching’ the midfielder, while today, it was claimed that they have made ‘new contact’ to secure him when his contract expires at the end of the season.
Signing him on a free would save them a sizeable sum in transfer fees, but Böni has warned any interested parties such as Manchester United will have to offer a huge signing on bonus to get him.
“His market value is 30-40 million, I think,” he told Blick.
“His contract with Gladbach expires in the summer. The clubs save that and can reinvest it.
“That’s how they try to lure the player. If you hear around in the scene, there will be 10-12 million euros in cash with a good contract over years, which will make up for it. One saves 30-40 million!
“The way he is playing at the moment, it’s very unlikely Gladbach will keep him. They would have to offer something similar.
“But they have been hit by Corona. Whether that gives them the money to extend the contract is questionable. They have Florian Neuhaus, a player in the backfield who can replace him quickly.
“It’s more realistic is that they try to sell him in the winter to see money.”
