Manchester United and Manchester City have both been linked to Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha as each evaluates midfield options ahead of a period of change.

Nmecha, 25, is under contract in Germany until 2028, but his long-term future at Dortmund is described as uncertain. Clubs across Europe have taken note of a player who has enjoyed a career resurgence in recent seasons.

An English-educated talent, Nmecha joined City’s academy in 2007 and spent 14 years on the books at the Etihad. He made three senior appearances for Manchester City and provided an assist in five minutes of Champions League action. He left City on a free transfer to join Wolfsburg in 2021 and moved to Dortmund two years later.

At City he was primarily an attacking player, operating behind the striker and on the left wing. In Germany he has been converted into a more all-action midfielder, often deployed deeper in a midfield pivot or as a box-to-box presence. That tactical change produced some of the best performances of his career. Standing at 6’3, Nmecha combines physicality with a broad on-ball skillset, and his earlier attacking training remains evident alongside developed defensive discipline. Former Dortmund boss Nuri Şahin described the German international as a “dream” because of his versatility.

United view a versatile midfielder as a priority as they prepare to bid farewell to Casemiro and contemplate broader rebuild plans that could see Manuel Ugarte moved on and leave Kobbie Mainoo as the only natural midfielder in the squad. The profile of a player like Nmecha would give the next manager, whether Michael Carrick or somebody else, tactical options during reconstruction.

City are not in the same immediate need but Pep Guardiola accepts the need to rejuvenate a squad that has fallen short in the title race. With doubts over the futures of Mateo Kovačić, Bernardo Silva and Rodri, they may seek new faces. Some inside City will be familiar with Nmecha and may be regretting the decision not to extend his contract five years ago.

Both clubs are also linked to other targets. Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson sits high on both shortlists with a reported £100 million ($133.5 million) price tag. Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba are also under consideration.

Gareth Bale has reiterated that a transfer to Manchester United was never his intention in the summer of 2013, even though discussions took place with manager David Moyes. Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Bale confirmed that United’s interest was real and financially significant.

“I did talk to United , yeah. They actually bid more than Real Madrid,” he said. When asked whether he was ever going to join United that summer, Bale answered plainly: “No.”

The episode also recalled an episode from Jul. 17, 2013 when United’s executive Ed Woodward left the club’s preseason tour in Australia to conduct what was described as “urgent transfer business.” United were also pursuing Cesc Fàbregas at the time, but neither Fàbregas nor Bale arrived at Old Trafford that window.

Bale described his own discussions: “I spoke with David Moyes. I didn’t speak [with Ed Woodward], maybe my agent did. But my heart was set on Madrid anyway,” and he explained a contractual understanding with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy that affected any possible move. “I had something in place with Daniel Levy, more of a gentleman’s agreement, because he didn’t want to sell me to a rival—you don’t want to strengthen another team,” he said. “So if a team did come in [for me] from Spain, Italy, Germany, wherever, I could potentially go. If we didn’t qualify for the Champions League, which we didn’t, I was then able to go.”

United ultimately signed Marouane Fellaini from Everton at the end of the transfer window, paying $42.9 million (£27.5 million) after allowing a lower release clause to expire in the hope it might make negotiations easier. Fellaini was the only new arrival into a squad described as ageing and in need of wider rejuvenation; the campaign finished with a seventh-place Premier League position, the club’s worst in the Premier League era at that time.

Two separate stories have surfaced in the latest transfer and rumor round-up. First, Man Utd are reported to be eyeing a player valued at $87 million. Second, Vinicius Jr has threatened to quit Real Madrid. Both developments have potential implications for squad planning, fan expectations, and the summer transfer market.

Interest from Man Utd in an $87 million signing would represent a major investment decision. A move of that scale suggests a club prepared to allocate significant resources toward addressing a key area of the squad. For supporters and sporting directors alike, the headline figure sets a high bar for both negotiation and future performance. Until formal offers are lodged or confirmed, the situation remains within the sphere of transfer speculation and strategic evaluation.

Separately, the report that Vinicius Jr threatens to quit Real Madrid introduces immediate uncertainty for one of Europe’s leading clubs. A threat of departure from a player of prominence could force internal discussions on contract terms, player welfare, and competitive ambitions. For the wider market, any confirmed decision to leave would create a notable opening for interested clubs, while also reshaping Real Madrid’s short-term planning.

Both stories underscore how quickly circumstances can change in the transfer window and rumor cycle. Monetary valuations, public statements, and the interplay between player intentions and club strategy are central to how these narratives evolve. At present, the two items remain framed as interest and a threat rather than completed transactions or confirmed exits.

Coverage will continue to track developments closely. Clubs, agents, and supporters will expect updates as parties respond and as any formal approaches or decisions are announced. For now, the $87 million link to Man Utd and Vinicius Jr’s threat to quit Real Madrid are the defining elements of this latest transfer news period.