Manchester United and Spurs chase Lyon defender who has impressed at Premier League strugglers

The fight for survival in the Premier League this season is set to go down to the wire with a handful of teams all still waiting nervously to secure their safety. 

Whilst very few people are giving Sheffield United any chance of survival, West Brom’s shock 5-2 victory over Chelsea last weekend has given Baggies fans the slightest hope of pulling off what would be the most unlikely of great escapes.

Meanwhile, Newcastle United, Brighton and Burnley will be hoping to shake off the attention of 18th placed Fulham, whose upturn in form since Christmas has given them a chance of survival.

Since the turn of the year, Fulham manager Scott Parker has masterminded a dramatic turn in form, with the Cottagers’ defensive resolve helping them to a number of good results, most notably a 1-0 victory over champions Liverpool at Anfield.

One player who has been at the centre of Fulham’s turnaround is Joachim Andersen, the defender on loan from Lyon.

When the Dane made his premier League debut in November, Fulham were without a win in the league and the defender’s influence has been evident ever since.

According to Metro, the player’s Ligue 1 parent club have slapped a £25 million price tag on the centre-back, and Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have both been alerted.

The report suggests that the French side have experienced severe financial problems in the past 12 months, hence the relatively low price tag.

According to The Telegraph, Lyon have already fielded one serious enquiry for the player, who has impressed in West London and could remain keen on staying in the Premier League.

Both United and Spurs are in the market for a central defender, with Spurs struggling to replace Jan Vertonghen, who departed last summer, and United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer keen to sign a long-term partner for Harry Maguire.

Whilst Scott Parker would undoubtedly be keen on keeping the player long term, it is understood that there is no clause in the loan deal and any interest would be completely dependant on Fulham’s survival; even still, they would struggle to compete with United and Spurs financially.

Spurs boss Jose Mourinho has struggled to find a consistent central defensive pairing, whilst Solskjaer is likely to allow the sale of at least one centre-back in the summer, meaning that both clubs could be the perfect fit for the Denmark international.