Chelsea, Man Utd and Spurs are all monitoring RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol | Soccer

Erik ten Hag is keen to sign a new centre-back early in his recovery at the Red Devils and has identified a number of potential transfer targets including his former Ajax protégé Jurrien Timber.

While Timber has been heavily linked with a Ten Hag reunion, a deal for the 20-year-old could prove difficult after former United boss and Dutch manager Louis van Gaal warned the player not to move to Old Trafford in the summer switch.

The 20-year-old had previously been linked with Chelsea and was reportedly on an eight-man shortlist of defensive signings that Thomas Tuchel’s side could make, including Sevilla’s Jules Kounde and Villareal’s Pau Torres.

Worth around £50m, Gvardiol is particularly desirable because he is left-footed, which United will appeal to as all of the current centre-backs are right-footed and Ten Hag is likely to implement heavy possession in backcourt football.

Chelsea are in dire need of defensive reinforcements as Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen are set to go for nothing and Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso are also linked with a move from Stamford Bridge.

Tottenham, meanwhile, have handed Antonio Conte a huge war chest to play with this summer and the Italy manager is keen to add another centre-back to his squad alongside the permanent transfer of Cristian Romero, with Alessandro Bastoni a reported target despite the Inter man Milan are also on United’s radar.

Of course, Gvardiol’s future will largely depend on Leipzig wanting to sell the player and they are unlikely to be in any rush as the club appear set to rake in a huge fee if the much-discussed sale of striker Christopher Nkunku happens this summer.

MORE : Louis van Gaal warns Ajax star Jurrien Timber against a move to Manchester United this summer

MORE : Inter Milan set price for Man Utd or Tottenham to sign Alessandro Bastoni

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