Man United set for Pierre Kalulu scout mission as Lisandro Martinez dealt fresh exit fear
Manchester United officials are expected to be present to watch Pierre Kalulu in action for Juventus on Saturday.
The Italian giants face a seismic clash with Inter Milan at the top of Serie A, and representatives from Old Trafford are set to take in the performance of their key centre-back, according to TuttoSport.
The 25-year-old is understood to be attracting interest from several Premier League clubs at the moment, but it is United who are preparing to make the first move as he pushes for a place in France’s squad for the World Cup.
Juventus have already opened talks over a new contract for Kalulu ahead of his current deal expiring in 2029, but his lofty wage demands and the interest from elsewhere are creating uncertainty.
Pierre Kalulu mission spells serious trouble for Lisandro Martinez
Lisandro Martinez has been heavily linked with an exit from Manchester United in recent weeks, as time begins to wind down on his current contract with the club.
The Argentine has only started nine Premier League games for the Red Devils so far this season, but he has returned to favour under the guidance of Michael Carrick of late.
The 28-year-old is due to enter the final year of his contract in the summer, and although United hold the option to automatically trigger an additional year on that deal, there are still major concerns over his future.
Barcelona are interested in signing Martinez in the summer, and there is an acceptance at Old Trafford that they may have to reluctantly sell the defender if there are no signs of a new contract being agreed, according to journalist Mark Brus via his X account.
However, news of United’s pursuit of Kalulu is surely an indication that they have been hit with a fresh fear of a potential exit for Martinez.
The fact that their scouts are now lining up a promising younger option to potentially replace the current star surely highlights everything there is to now about the chances of him leaving at the end of the season.
Who is Man United target Pierre Kalulu?
Kalulu has become a crucial part of Juventus’ plans this term, as he is yet to miss a minute of their league campaign after 24 games of the Serie A season.
He is already on the verge of surpassing the number of minutes that he received last season, which is a sure sign of his rapid progression with the Turin outfit, and he has already managed five goal contributions in the league.
| Stats | Kalulu Total | Team Rank |
| Apps | 24 | N/A |
| Goal Contributions | 5 | =4th |
| Chances Created | 27 | 4th |
| Tackles per 90 | 1.7 | 6th |
| Interceptions per 90 | 0.7 | =6th |
| Duels Won % | 52.3% | N/A |
The former AC Milan star has regularly been used as the right-sided centre-back in Luciano Spalletti’s 3-4-3 system in 2025-26, but has also filled in at right-back when the boss has opted to drop his team into a 4-2-3-1.
That versatility is seen as a major advantage to Kalulu’s game, and could make him an ideal option as a last-minute call-up for France manager Olivier Deschamps ahead of the World Cup.
Kalulu is a product of Lyon’s youth academy, and could now be in need of a new challenge after spending the last five full campaigns in Serie A.
United are pushing to provide him with that opportunity, but it could easily come at the expense of one of their most established squad members.