“I'm proud that my guys are being linked to those clubs,” Ivan Leko said, and that was the most revealing line in the latest talk around Club Brugge KV's wanted players. The manager was speaking about Joaquin Seys and Nicolò Tresoldi, with Manchester United and Barcelona among the clubs being mentioned. He did not sound like someone trying to close the subject down.

Leko's view on the interest

Leko said, “We chat about it every now and then. How much of those rumours is true? I don't know. But we all have eyes in our heads: their potential is incredible.” That is the key part of this story. He is not denying the links, and he is not pretending the noise is going away.

The other line that stands out is his nod to the market: “If there's a lot of money on the table, it's obviously not easy to say no.” That sits alongside his comment that the board still wants to build a team that's even better than last season. He also referenced Christos Tzolis as proof that a player can move for the right fee.

The Tzolis example should be treated as Leko's comparison, not as a confirmed move in itself. The point he was making is clear enough: Brugge are happy to talk about potential, but they are also aware that the right offer changes the conversation fast.

What it means for United's pursuit

The United angle is still about interest rather than a completed deal. Leko's comments do not confirm that Seys is leaving, but they do explain why the links have not been knocked down by Brugge's side.

That matters because United have already spent around £85m this summer on Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, according to reports, yet Carrick has still admitted the squad needs more in one or two areas. He said United have “a pretty good balance in all when you lay the squad out, but of course we would like more.” The club's summer work has not stopped them being linked with another addition.

Seys is reportedly valued at around £30m, so this is not a cheap punt. Brugge's stance from Leko suggests they would rather keep their best young players, but they are not dressing the situation up as untouchable either. His final line was the bluntest: “Let's hope they're all still here in September.”

That is where this sits now, with Brugge open about the market and United still in the picture. Leko has not sold anyone, but he has made it clear that the door is not shut.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →