Manchester United Eye Marseille’s Benjamin Mendy as Evra Successor
Manchester United are reportedly monitoring Marseille left-back Benjamin Mendy as a potential replacement for veteran defender Patrice Evra, whose future at Old Trafford remains uncertain.
According to French sports daily L’Équipe, United manager David Moyes has been impressed with the 19-year-old’s performances and is keen to bring the French youth international to the Premier League during the summer transfer window. The move would see Mendy compete for a starting position in a post-Evra era, as the long-serving French international is widely expected to leave the club at the end of the season.
Mendy, who joined Marseille from Le Havre in the summer of 2013, has had a mixed debut season in Ligue 1. While he has shown promise with his pace and attacking intent down the left flank, inconsistency in defensive duties led to spells out of the first team under both Elie Baup and José Anigo. At times, the young defender was even relegated to appearances with Marseille’s CFA2 side, the club’s reserve squad.
However, his talent has continued to attract attention, and he has finished the season reclaiming a regular spot in the starting eleven. His progress has not gone unnoticed in England. France Football reported earlier this year that an English club had submitted a €6 million bid for the player—though Marseille rejected the offer at the time.
Whether Marseille would be willing to part with the Senegalese-born full-back this summer remains uncertain. Club president Vincent Labrune recently declared that none of the club’s young prospects would be sold during the upcoming window, signalling an intention to build a competitive future squad around emerging talent. However, financial realities and pressure from Premier League suitors may yet challenge that stance.
Mendy’s potential move would be part of a wider restructuring at Old Trafford, with United expected to make several signings after a disappointing campaign. David Moyes, under pressure to rebuild the squad and re-establish the club’s position among the English elite, is thought to be prioritising reinforcements in defence.
If Mendy makes the switch, he would follow in the footsteps of Evra—another former Ligue 1 player who made his name in England after moving from Monaco in 2006.
The coming weeks are likely to be crucial in determining the young defender’s future, as United and other interested clubs weigh their transfer strategies and Marseille assess their ability to retain key talent.
