Manchester United Transfer News: Arsenal Reportedly Enter Jerome Boateng Race

Manchester United could reportedly face competition from Arsenal over the signing of Jerome Boateng from Bayern Munich. 

According to Kicker (h/t Goal), new Gunners head coach Unai Emery is interested in the Red Devils target, who is valued at €50 million (£44.5 million) by Bayern and has also been linked with Paris Saint-Germain.

United have been linked with various centre-backs this summer, including Leicester City's Harry Maguire, Barcelona's Yerry Mina and Tottenham Hotspur's Toby Alderweireld, per Goal's Ignasi Oliva Gispert.

Boateng, 29, is the latest defender to be linked with the Old Trafford giants but is not necessarily United's first-choice option, per the Manchester Evening News' Samuel Luckhurst:

The Germany international has largely been brilliant for Bayern since joining them from Manchester City in 2011.

He has won six Bundesliga titles, a UEFA Champions League and has been shortlisted five times for the FIFA FIFPro World XI.

Boateng has been some way off his best recently, though, and endured a miserable campaign with Germany at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He played 90 minutes of their 1-0 defeat to Mexico before being sent off against Sweden.  

United need a senior centre-back to pair with their current options, none of whom are consistently convincing—besides arguably Eric Bailly.

Boateng would have been a fine option a few seasons ago but may no longer be the ideal target.

If United manager Jose Mourinho believes he can be of benefit to his squad, though, he will be eager to ward off any challenge from Arsenal.

The fact that United, unlike the Gunners, will be playing in the Champions League next season should play in their favour should it come down to Boateng having to make a choice between the two clubs.