Manchester United Works On 'Main' Target's Transfer Ahead Of Rangnick Arrival: Report

Apart from its coaching staff, Manchester United may also be working on a change in its roster, according to a report.

The Red Devils are slowly getting back up following their recent disastrous run under the management of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. On Thursday, Manchester United reached an agreement with Lokomotiv Moscow for the Russian club's head of sports and development Ralf Rangnick to move to Old Trafford as interim manager, The Athletic reported.

As Rangnick nears arrival at Old Trafford, Manchester United also identified the potential transfer of Barcelona star Ousmane Dembele as a top priority, Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo reported. International Business Times could not independently verify this information.

Barca had already sent Dembele an offer that was as “attractive” as the La Liga side could possibly make in its current situation, the report said. However, it reportedly was not enough to convince the winger and his representative.

Aside from an enticing offer, new Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez is also persuading Dembele to stay, according to the outlet.

Manchester United, meanwhile, has been rumored to be keeping tabs on Dembele since failing to sign him from Barca in the summer of 2020. The English club has remained interested in the Frenchman and has now made him one of its “main objectives” for next season, the report added.

Aside from Manchester United, the report also mentioned Newcastle United as among the clubs pursuing Dembele. The Magpies are said to have already tabled a bid of around €15 million ($16.9 million) and another €15 million ($16.9 million) as a signing bonus.

However, Newcastle United is still far from signing Dembele as the player’s agent Moussa Sissoko is not satisfied with the said offer and has already “started to listen to offers from other clubs,” Sport reported.

Ousmane Dembele of Barcelona looks on during the La Liga Santander match between SD Eibar and FC Barcelona at Estadio Municipal de Ipurua on May 22, 2021 in Eibar, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. Photo: Photo by Cristian Trujillo/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

Addressing the Barcelona star’s situation, Xavi revealed that he has let Dembele know “how important” he is for the club’s “future.” However, the manager acknowledged that in the end, the decision will be up to the player.

"I had an individual chat with him," Xavi said Friday. "I made it clear to him how important he was for not only me this season, but for the future. It depends on him. Hopefully, he can renew because he's a player capable of making a difference in the next few years."

The Barca boss also emphasized that none of his players is on the market at the moment.

"We need them,” the coach pointed out. “They're players who are playing and none of them is for sale at all."

Dembele's current deal with Barcelona is set to expire on June 30.