Manchester United are reportedly losing out in the battle to sign in-demand Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo this summer.
The former Manchester City centre-back had been ever-present for Marco Silva's side this season but has not featured in the club's last three Premier League matches as his contract enters its final month. Adarabioyo has been a standout player for the Craven Cottage club and it is understood he wants to make the step up to a side battling for the European places.
According to the Daily Mail, United are struggling to win the race to sign the 26-year-old and bring him back to Manchester. It is understood Newcastle are the clear favourites to sign the centre-back after being left impressed with the Magpies vision and the project Eddie Howe is building.
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Talks between Adarabioyo and Newcastle took place last week and now the former England U19 international favours a move to the North East. United are hoping to sign a centre-back in the summer as they look to strengthen the core of their squad.
Elsewhere, Donny van de Beek's agent Guido Albers has insisted he is working hard to find his client a permanent move away from Old Trafford at the end of the season. The 27-year-old was sent on loan to Eintracht Frankfurt in January after failing to make any noteworthy impact at United.
However, he has failed to impress in the Bundesliga and there are no signs he will be moving to Frankfurt permanently. Instead, Albers has been set the task of finding Van de Beek a club in Spain or Italy that will utilise his client in the No.10 role.
In an interview with ESPN, Albers did admit that a return to Ajax is off the cards at this stage. Albers said: "I came to an agreement with Frankfurt for him. Frankfurt still had an option until June 30, which they will not exercise.
"Officially he is now going back to Manchester United and I am now in discussions with him. Donny does not want to stay in the Premier League, also because United do not want that. That is not a good choice for him. He needs to return to a club that plays good football. In any case, he will not return to Ajax.
"My preference was to look in Spain, Italy or France. If I could get him in Spain or Italy that would be fantastic, at a club where he will play as a No.10 like he played at Ajax. He was very close to a transfer to Real Sociedad last summer. That was cancelled at the last minute because Erik ten Hag wanted to keep him until the last minute. Then he ended up at Frankfurt."
