According to Foot Mercato and journalist Sébastien Denis, no formal offer has yet been submitted to Lens — but United are the most advanced of the clubs in the market, having identified Sangaré as a priority target to address a midfield that requires significant reinforcement.
Sangaré joined Lens in the summer of 2025 from Rapid Vienna for €8 million — having finished as the top ball-recoverer in the Austrian Bundesliga with 200 recoveries and added 69 in the Europa Conference League that same season. His debut campaign in Ligue 1 exceeded every expectation.
He made 33 appearances across all competitions, scoring three goals and adding four assists, but the numbers understate his impact.
Sangaré operates as a box-to-box midfielder capable of playing as a number 6 or number 8, and his engine, aggression in the press and ability to progress the ball made him the engine of a Lens side that finished second in Ligue 1, qualified for the Champions League and won the Coupe de France for the first time in the club's history.
He won the Marc-Vivien Foé prize for the best African player in Ligue 1, edging Lamine Camara and Moussa Niakhaté.
Speaking to RFI earlier in the season, Sangaré outlined the defensive dimension that defines his profile.
"I love going to defend against the opponent. I have really progressed in that area. I really love this aspect of my game, because it gives me real pleasure to recover balls."
For Manchester United, the appeal is clear. Casemiro has departed. Manuel Ugarte's performances were inconsistent. Michael Carrick's squad heads into Champions League football next season with a midfield in clear need of reinforcement — and the club has already signalled its intention to sign at least two central midfielders this summer.
Chelsea were understood to have been planning a €45 million offer. Liverpool have Sangaré on their shortlist. Tottenham and a host of other Premier League clubs are also tracking the situation.
Lens hold a contract with Sangaré until 2030. They have no compulsion to sell. But they know, according to Foot Mercato, that retaining the player is "virtually impossible" given the level of interest. Whatever price the bidding war settles on is likely to significantly exceed his current €40 million valuation.
The opening offer, whenever it arrives, will start the auction.