Manchester United have reportedly been put on red alert about the possibility of signing Borussia Dortmund star Karim Adeyemi. The speedy forward is enduring a difficult spell at Dortmund and is unsettled as the January transfer window approaches.
United splashed over £200million to bring in Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha in the summer transfer window. The moves completely overhauled their forward line and Ruben Amorim is beginning to see the benefits following an improved period of form.
But the club remains on the lookout for potential new recruits and Adeyemi’s situation at Dortmund has caught their attention. The 23-year-old has been at Dortmund for three years, having broken through as a teenager at Red Bull Salzburg, but reports in Germany suggest relationships are fraying.
Adeyemi has three goals and three assists in 14 games this season and has clashed with manager Niko Kovac recently. He threw a bottle at the bench after being substituted last month in a 1-0 win over Koln, drawing a public scolding for his behaviour from Kovac.
“I think that’s unnecessary,” the Dortmund manager said. “It’s okay that he can be angry sometimes, but that’s unnecessary, he’s an adult.” Kovac was visibly frustrated with his performance in the 1-1 draw with Hamburg on the weekend and things have reportedly come to a head.
Bild says that talks are ‘in full swing’ behind the scenes over Adeyemi’s long-term future at the club. He is currently tied down until June 2027, but his new agent Jorge Mendes is pushing for fresh terms, which would include a £70million release clause.
Mendes is known for orchestrating big-money transfers and United know him well, with the Portuguese agent having been behind United’s acquisitions of Leny Yoro and Manuel Ugarte in recent years.
Adeyemi is known for his eye-catching speed and is able to play on both wings. He has 29 goals and 22 assists across 121 appearances for Dortmund and United will be keeping a close eye on how his relationship with Kovac develops in the coming weeks.
Speaking after Dortmund’s 4-1 defeat by Manchester City in the Champions League recently, Kovac tried to find positives in Adeyemi’s performance after he lasted 81 minutes at the Etihad Stadium. “I want to keep it general: the passing quality that City showed compared to us was better,” he said.
“Karim had a few situations, but he didn’t succeed. He lacked precision and accuracy. But I am satisfied that he earned the chance in the first place.”
United are understood to be prioritising the signing of a central midfielder in the January transfer window, with Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson and Carlos Baleba among the players they admire.
