Jonathan Clauss rejects Manchester United and moves to INEOS-owned OGC Nice instead

Full-back remains an area of concern for Manchester United with with only nine days left for the season-opening Community Shield game against fierce rivals Manchester City at Wembley.

The Red Devils are currently on their pre-season tour of the United States and are without a senior left-back while their only fit right-back looks to be on his way out.

Luke Shaw had missed 36 games last term while Tyrell Malacia was sidelined for the whole campaign. The Dutchman is still to join group training while the England international is yet to join pre-season training due to his Euro 2024 exertions.

Last season, the OLd Trafford side were forced to dip into the loan market to find a left-back option and in came Sergio Reguilon, though he lasted only six months.

Versatile full-back needed

Erik ten Hag was forced to rely on Victor Lindelof and Sofyan Amrabat, both of whom struggled big time. Now with Aaron Wan-Bissaka likely to be heading to West Ham United, a versatile full-back is very much needed.

As per latest reports, the 20-time English league champions are close to sealing a deal for Noussair Mazraoui of Bayern Munich with Ten Hag pushing for the his inclusion.

The duo had worked together at Ajax so the Moroccan knows what Ten Hag expects from his full-back. The 26-year-old is adept at going forward while he can play in both flanks if needed.

Once Wan-Bissaka’s exit is agreed, the three-time Champions League winners will utilise those funds to land the Morrocco international.

But before United had identified the Bayern star as a gettable target, they were reportedly eyeing a move for Jonathan Clauss as per L’Equipe (via CaughtOffside).

Clauss moved to OGC Nice instead of United

The Frenchman has decided to join OGC Nice from Marseille for a fee of around €5 million and has signed a two-year deal. He is currently 31 and would have been, at best, a backup option at United.

At Nice, also owned by INEOS, he is guaranteed to play more and will be an integral part of the project. His price tag was attractive from a United point of view as well as his ability to play on either side of the backline.

The France international is quite attack-minded and scored five times while registering 12 assists last season, something that attracted Ten Hag.

Clauss was a target for the Red Devils before he sealed his move to Marseille but United ultimately chose to stick with Diogo Dalot and Wan-Bissaka back then. And it seems the player has spurned another chance of playing in England.

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