Juventus block £42m Kalulu sale as Manchester United seek defensive reinforcements

Manchester United’s search for defensive reinforcements has suffered a setback after Juventus told the club that Pierre Kalulu will not be sold. The 24-year-old Frenchman, valued at approximately £42m, had been linked with a January move to Old Trafford, but the Italian side are unwilling to part with him and are instead working to tie him down to a new deal.

Kalulu joined Juventus from AC Milan for just over £12m following a loan spell, and has since established himself as a key figure in Turin. Under Italy head coach Luciano Spalletti, he has been deployed across multiple positions — including central defence and right-back — and has even been encouraged to contribute in attack, making him a versatile and valued asset.

United’s interest in Kalulu comes as the club turns its attention to the backline after two windows of heavy investment further up the pitch. Manager Michael Carrick oversaw the arrivals of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko to strengthen the attack in the summer of 2025, before adding Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba to midfield in a spending spree worth north of £150m across both windows combined. Defence is now understood to be the next area targeted for improvement.

The club’s failure to address their defensive needs before the close of the summer window drew criticism from former United captain Gary Neville. “They have got some individually decent defenders, but there isn’t a back four there and when it starts to get put under pressure and it starts to pick up a couple of injuries during the season, it will let you down,” Neville warned. “If they could get a centre-back and a full-back before the window closes, that will stop problems that we know we’re going to see.”

United’s left-back options remain particularly thin, with only Luke Shaw and Patrick Dorgu available in that position. Dorgu was used predominantly as a winger by Carrick last season, leaving the club exposed. A move for Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall failed to materialise after the Magpies resisted selling, and Hall subsequently signed a new contract keeping him at St. James’ Park until 2031.

Kalulu has also attracted interest from Liverpool, who signed his French international team-mate Jeremy Jacquet earlier in the summer window. Juventus’s firm stance means both clubs will need to look elsewhere if they are to bolster their defensive options in January.