Report: Man United set to battle Arsenal in the race to sign Bundesliga defender | OneFootball

Frankfurt brace for summer sale as transfer interest grows

As reported by Bild, Eintracht Frankfurt once again stand at a familiar crossroads, the moment when sporting ambition collides with financial necessity. History tells its own story here. The club’s brightest talents seldom linger beyond two full seasons, with names such as Kolo Muani, Marmoush and Ekitiké serving as recent examples of brief but profitable stays.

All signs suggest Nathaniel Brown is following that path. The 22 year old left back, signed from Nürnberg in the summer of 2024 for €3m plus bonuses, has no intention of leaving this winter. The aim is to complete a second full campaign in Frankfurt colours, ideally with a World Cup call up to crown it. Yet internally the expectation is firm that his future points away from Germany come next summer.

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European giants circle for standout defender

Brown’s rapid progression domestically and in Europe has ensured attention from the game’s elite. Bild revealed in October that “Real Madrid, FC Arsenal and Manchester United” have placed the defender on their shopping lists, with scouts tracking him closely for months. Frankfurt executives, fully aware of the level of intrigue, have already begun to prepare for negotiations.

Sporting director Markus Krösche addressed the situation during an interview, openly placing a valuation on the defender.

“In the big BamS interview confirmed that he expects a transfer fee in the region of 65 million.”

That figure reflects not only Brown’s importance to the team but also Frankfurt’s reliance on major outgoing deals to sustain their business model, even during Champions League seasons.

Financial pressures shape Frankfurt strategy

Despite playing on Europe’s biggest stage, the financial picture remains demanding. Frankfurt’s staffing costs rose sharply from €141.4m to €177.3m last season. Champions League income, estimated at around €50m, only arrives in the current financial year, meaning the previous accounts still closed at a loss of €8.4m, based on revenues of €389.1m and expenses of €397.5m.

This reality ensures the need for substantial sales. Qualification for European competition remains uncertain with the club currently seventh in the Bundesliga. As such, dependable income streams from the transfer market remain crucial.

Brown emerges as prime transfer asset

Among the current squad, Brown stands as Frankfurt’s most marketable asset. Other prospects are not expected to move in the near term. Bild report that Can Uzun is valued at €80m and Jean Mattéo Bahoya at €70m, yet both are expected to remain for another season. Hugo Larsson’s market trajectory has become harder to project, with doubts over whether his previously anticipated €50m to €60m valuation will materialise.

Those circumstances elevate Brown further in the hierarchy of potential exits. The DFB international offers a combination of peak form, positional value and clarity of interest that positions him as the most realistic candidate to fund Frankfurt’s next rebuild.

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For supporters, the story feels achingly familiar. Frankfurt nurture, develop, then reluctantly sell. Brown’s ascent looks destined to provide the next chapter in that cycle, rewarding the club’s patience while reopening questions about how far stability can truly be sustained when success continually breeds smiles from Europe’s biggest buyers.

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For Manchester United supporters, this report lands as both exciting and frustrating. Exciting because Brown sounds exactly like the type of profile United should be targeting. Young, already battle tested in Europe and improving rapidly, operating in a role that has often caused problems at Old Trafford. Frustrating because the £55m to £60m price tag implied by a €65m valuation feels steep for a player still early in his top level career.

United fans have grown wary of paying premium fees without watertight evidence of immediate Premier League readiness. The memories of costly developmental purchases linger heavily. Yet Brown’s reputation for energy, composure and tactical discipline feels aligned with what supporters crave, especially after seasons of defensive instability.

There is also curiosity about whether United’s renewed scouting structure can compete with clubs like Arsenal or Real Madrid for emerging talents. Acting decisively would signal real change from the reactive behaviour that has plagued recruitment in recent years.

Ultimately, fans would welcome the move if it reflected a broader strategic approach rather than another impulse buy. If Brown is pursued within a coherent long term plan, supporters would be onboard. If not, the scepticism that now greets most high priced targets will resurface quickly.