Ruben Amorim Tracks David Affengruber After 30 La Liga Starts

ruben amorim is being linked with a defender who already looks set for another move. David Affengruber is planning to leave Elche this summer after 30 league starts, and Manchester United have received fresh encouragement as they monitor the 25-year-old Austria international.

Affengruber, who joined Elche on a free transfer in the summer of 2024, is about to enter the final 12 months of his contract. He scored one goal and added one assist this season, then helped Elche into the top flight before playing a major part in their push to stay clear of trouble.

Manchester United Watch Affengruber

Manchester United have reportedly been scouting the 6ft 1in centre-back, and they are not alone. Juventus, AC Milan, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla have also followed him, which turns a contract situation at Elche into a wider summer market.

United’s interest sits against a specific backdrop at Old Trafford. Michael Carrick has said the club do not need to sign another centre-back this summer, even though Matthijs de Ligt has been sidelined since December with a back injury and has missed the entire calendar year so far.

Elche Face Summer Pressure

Elche’s position gives the club a decision to make. They are 13th in the La Liga table heading into the final three rounds of fixtures and only two points clear of the bottom three, so any move for Affengruber can be shaped by where they finish and how much room they have to negotiate.

Florian Plettenberg reported that Affengruber is preparing to depart after two seasons at the club. He made his senior international debut for Austria in March, when they beat Ghana in a friendly, and he is in contention for Ralf Rangnick’s World Cup squad.

That matters because Elche may wait until after the World Cup to enter negotiations with interested clubs. Affengruber has missed only four games through injury in his entire career, and his broader output — 34 direct involvements in 234 club matches — helps explain why four European rivals have kept tracking him.

Affengruber’s Next Move

For Elche, the timing is awkward. They signed him for nothing less than a year ago, he has already delivered promotion value and a stable run of 30 league starts, and now they may have to weigh his future against their own survival fight and a market that has already formed around him.