Liverpool and Manchester United Circle Juventus Defender Pierre Kalulu

Liverpool and Manchester United are preparing strategic defensive overhauls ahead of 2027, and Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu has emerged as a shared target. Both clubs won their UEFA Champions League opening matches despite unconvincing domestic starts in the Premier League, while continuing long-range planning for upcoming roster shifts.

Kalulu, currently valued at £27 million ($35 million) by transfer analysis portal Transfermarkt, has become a core part of Juventus’s backline alongside Brazilian center-back Gleison Bremer. Football journalist Ekrem Konur reports that Liverpool and Manchester United have monitored the French defender’s standing in Serie A.

The 26-year-old developed in the youth academy of Olympique Lyonnais before joining AC Milan in August 2020 for roughly €1.3 million. During his four-year tenure in Milan, he played a significant role in the club’s 2021–22 Serie A title-winning campaign under manager Stefano Pioli.

Kalulu joined Juventus in August 2024 on an initial loan deal containing an option to purchase for €14 million plus add-ons. His recovery speed, positional awareness, effectiveness in one-on-one defensive situations, and ability to progress the ball from the backline have contributed to the interest in him.

Technically proficient in central defense, Kalulu also features regularly as a right-back. That versatility is particularly relevant to Liverpool manager Arne Slot, whose club is scouting long-term successor options at center-back as captain Virgil van Dijk advances into his mid-30s.

Liverpool also has Jeremie Frimpong working through an adjustment period in the squad, making Kalulu’s right-back experience a source of high-level coverage across two distinct positions. Juventus’s lack of silver trophies in recent seasons could further encourage the defender to assess potential opportunities in England.

Manchester United’s defensive needs are different. Although the club retains an interest in Kalulu, its primary defensive priority for 2027 is a long-term left-back after former England international Luke Shaw passed age 30 and experienced persistent injury setbacks.

United has invested heavily in central defenders such as Matthijs de Ligt, Leny Yoro, and Lisandro Martínez in recent transfer windows, leaving central defensive recruitment secondary while the left flank requires reinforcement.

With Manchester United’s immediate recruitment strategies oriented toward the left-back position, Liverpool stands in a favorable position if formal negotiations begin for Kalulu. Juventus continues its project under head coach Thiago Motta, while Premier League interest in key Serie A players is anticipated to remain a focal point throughout upcoming transfer windows.