Manchester United told to cough up £40m for defender who could end up warming bench

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Juventus will not sell defender Alex Sandro for any less than £40m amid Premier League interest, according to Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte.

The Express cites Italian publication Calciomercato as reporting that Manchester United and Manchester City are both fans of the Brazilian international.

Louis van Gaal was keen to land the 25-year-old to improve his options at left-back due to the long-term injury to Luke Shaw, The Express understands.

But, with Shaw now approaching fitness after six months out with a broken leg, Van Gaal would be foolish to sanction such an expensive transfer.

Sandro is a decent attacking full-back, but has struggled to usurp former United veteran Patrice Evra from the team in his first season with Juventus.

He has made 11 Serie A starts following his £20m arrival from Porto last summer – fee confirmed by The Express – and seven more in cup competitions.

This suggests that he would also play second fiddle to Shaw once the potentially outstanding 20-year-old is up and running again, hopefully next season.

And the £40m release clause quoted is far too much to spend on a defender who would be spending most of his time warming the bench at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils also have Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, 19, at left-back, and signing Sandro would limit the promising youngster’s first-team opportunities.

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