Manchester United are preparing a formal £51m offer to sign Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery, according to French outlet Top Mercato.
The 20-year-old has emerged as a priority target for the Red Devils as they look to strengthen their midfield options ahead of the new season.
Zaïre-Emery came through the ranks at PSG’s academy, representing the U17, U19, and reserve teams before breaking into the first team.
His rise at club level translated quickly to international football, where he became the youngest captain of the France U21 side at U17 level in September 2023.
He was handed his senior France debut two months later and famously scored in a 14-0 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying win against Gibraltar, becoming the country’s youngest-ever goalscorer at 17 years and 8 months.
That debut strike also made him Les Bleus’ third-youngest-ever debutant, cementing his status as one of the most exciting young players in European football.
He has since gone on to make 13 appearances for the two-time world champions and featured for 109 minutes in the recently concluded FIFA World Cup.
At club level, Zaïre-Emery has played a key role in PSG’s domestic and European surge, with the Parisian club winning three consecutive Ligue 1 titles and two consecutive Champions League trophies.
Despite United’s clear interest, the path to securing a deal looks complicated, with PSG expected to rebuff any approach given that Zaïre-Emery still has three years remaining on his contract at the Parc des Princes.
The midfielder carries a £68m market valuation, meaning United’s proposed £51m bid is likely to fall short of PSG’s expectations for one of their most prized assets.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has acknowledged United’s interest but tempered expectations, speaking on his YouTube channel about the likelihood of a deal materialising this summer.
Romano said, “So at the moment, the Zaïre-Emery story is difficult, is complicated. Then, if Man United at some point will enter the race for Zaïre-Emery, I will be here and tell you. But at the moment, I will mention Zaïre-Emery more as a kind of dream target than a real target for Manchester United.”
Zaïre-Emery would complement United’s existing midfield options, including Youri Tielemans, who excels at breaking opposition lines and dictating tempo from deep positions.
Andrey Santos is another creative presence in United’s engine room, having recorded the highest pass-completion rate and the most progressive passes per 90 minutes among Premier League midfielders aged under 22.
United will hope their initial approach can open a dialogue with PSG, though convincing the French champions to sell one of their most important young players this summer remains a significant challenge.