Mauricio Pochettino is expected to target a central defender in his first transfer window as Manchester United’s manager.
Earlier today, we relayed a report from The Telegraph suggesting Pochettino will want to strengthen United’s defence “as a matter of urgency.”
United are likely to prefer a Premier League-proven defender, but the cost of signing a player from an English club mid-season may prove to be massive for the Red Devils.
Interest in Koni De Winter intensifying
Ruben Amorim is currently in charge of AC Milan, having joined the Serie A powerhouses after being sacked from Manchester United.
The Portuguese head coach is thought to be keen on strengthening Milan’s defence.
According to Tuttomercatoweb, Milan will sign a top-tier defender in January, but at the same time, there are some question marks over the future of their promising centre-back Koni De Winter.
It is claimed there are new developments regarding De Winter, who has been described as one of Amorim’s most loyal supporters in Milan.
De Winter is enjoying a phenomenal season under Amorim, impressing with his imposing presence and mobility at the back. As such, the Rossoneri’s intention is to keep hold of him.
However, it is believed the Belgian’s performances have not gone unnoticed, especially in the Premier League. The report states that in recent days, De Winter has caught the attention of some high-profile clubs.
| Stat | 2026/27 · AC Milan | 2026/27 · AC Milan | 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Competition | Serie A | UEFA Europa League | All competitions |
| Apps | 11 | 4 | 15 |
| Minutes | 970 | 360 | 1330 |
| Starts | 10 | 4 | 14 |
| Goals | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Assists | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Avg rating | 6.77 | 6.53 | 6.71 |
| Passes | 714 | 242 | 956 |
| Pass accuracy % | 94.0% | 92.0% | 93.5% |
| Key passes | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Stat | 2026/27 · AC Milan | 2026/27 · AC Milan | 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tackles | 17 | 7 | 24 |
| Interceptions | 17 | 6 | 23 |
| Blocks | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Duels | 83 | 34 | 117 |
| Duels won | 47 | 19 | 66 |
| Duels won % | 56.6% | 55.9% | 56.4% |
| Dribbled past | – | – | – |
| Fouls won | 6 | 5 | 11 |
| Fouls committed | 16 | 6 | 22 |
| Yellow cards | 3 | 2 | 5 |
Manchester United show interest in Koni De Winter
It is understood Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool have made no secret of their interest in the Belgian international.
As things stand, nothing is thought to be concrete, but the 24-year-old is highly regarded.
Milan would reportedly not change their stance unless they receive offers well above his market value.
De Winter is tied to Milan until 2030, having joined the Serie A giants from Genoa in 2025. As such, this pursuit could prove to be tricky for the Red Devils.
Noussair Mazraoui has been strongly linked with Milan since Amorim moved to San Siro, and perhaps United could be tempted to use the Moroccan to land De Winter at a more desired fee. However, for now, this remains only a hypothetical situation.
Featured image by Daniel Bartel via Getty Images
