RB Leipzig centre-back Castello Lukeba is hoping for a big move this summer, with the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Real Madrid all interested, according to reports in Germany.
The 22-year-old joined the Bundesliga side from Lyon in 2023 for €34m after two seasons in the first team of the French outfit.
The France international has been a regular in the RB Leipzig side since then, when not out with injury, as he has suffered a couple of hamstring problems this season.
He has one cap for the France senior team, but was a part of the side that won the silver medal at the Olympics over the summer, losing in the final to Spain.
His performances for club and country have caught the attention of a number of the biggest clubs in the world.
Sport Bild report that the quartet of Real Madrid, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United have all been linked with a move for the young centre-back.
Lukeba has a release clause in his contract, which is active this summer, worth €90m (£75m), with the defender reportedly hopeful that a club of that stature will trigger it.
The defender has experience at the highest level but it would represent a huge expenditure on a player who only has the DFL-Supercup to his name in terms of trophies.
There may also be concern over his injury record this season, with the hamstring problem limiting him to just 11 Bundesliga appearances so far this campaign.
Former Leipzig managing director for sport, Max Eberl, who is now at Bayern Munich, explained the strengths of the Frenchman.
‘He is left footed and can play as a left-sided centre-back in both a back-three and a back-four,’ said Eberl. ‘Castello’s main strengths are his tough-tackling nature, his pace, his positioning and how good he is on the ball.’
Lukeba was the left-sided of three centre-backs at the weekend as Leipzig beat St Pauli 2-0.
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