Manchester United are now in the driving seat for the signature of Borussia Mönchengladbach striker Marcus Thuram.
United are desperately hunting for a goalscorer to come in and replace Cristiano Ronaldo, who left Old Trafford.
The Red Devils have explored a number of names including Joao Felix and Memphis Depay.
La Repubblica reports that United are now the favourites to sign Thuram with a contract proposal already made to the Frenchman ahead of a possible move this month.
Alongside United, there are a host of other top clubs in Europe also eyeing Thuram, including Inter Milan and Bayern Munich.
Interhave been locked in negotiations with the player’s representatives over personal terms for weeks now, with the Nerazzurri keen to add a player of Thuram’s talent to their ranks.
Giulio Cardone and Enrico De Lellis relay, “Thuram is on the list of other top clubs, two in particular: Manchester United and Bayern Munich. The English are looking for a striker capable of replacing Cristiano Ronaldo immediately.”
“Inter have already made their proposal: 5 million euros a year, plus bonuses, for four seasons. But the Nerazzurri’s offer is lower than those of United and Bayern Munich.”
“The Red Devils are trying to convince Borussia M’gladbach to sell the 25-year-old striker already in the winter transfer market session, but the German club won’t make discounts: the starting bid is 15 million euros.”
At €15m, Thuram is out of Inter Milan’s reach, which would give United a clear run at the player who is determined to ply his trade in the Premier League. United are also on the striker’s wishlist alongsideParis St-Germain and Bayern Munich.
La Repubblica adds that Erik ten Hag likes Thuram a lot.
United are hopeful of completing the transfer in the coming weeks and warding off competition for the Frenchman’s services.
Manchester United: Mark Goldbridge slams club hierarchy over transfers
YouTube presenter Mark Goldbridge has slammed the Manchester United hierarchy over their inability to complete transfers quickly enough.
What’s the word?
United have been strongly linked with a loan move for Atletico Madrid striker Joao Felix, with David Ornstein revealing that the asking price of a total of around €21m (£18.6m) for a six-month loan is currently too high.
Goldbridge has criticised the United board as a result, claiming that they need to act quickly in the interests of strengthening their team, rather than wasting weeks of the transfer window trying to negotiate a lower fee.
Should Man United sign Joao Felix?
Speaking on his YouTube channel, he laid into the club, claiming that their misplaced priorities will only stall Erik ten Hag’s progress at Old Trafford, as well as potentially jeopardising their performances in their cup fixtures in January.
He said: “What bunch of prats sits there and goes, ‘Eric, we might get you Joao Felix, but we’re confident we can bring the price tag down in three weeks by about €5m’? And if I was Erik ten Hag, I’d be going, ‘What are you talking about?’.
“‘Alright, it’s a little bit expensive, but you’re not going to get it down by €15m, you’re gonna get it down by five. You’re telling me that €5m is that important to you that you want me to go and play Carabao Cup knockout games, FA Cup knockout games and big Premier League points games without a forward so that you can save €5m?
“‘You’ll make that in gate receipts from the semi-finals if I beat Charlton in the Carabao Cup’.
“We’re not buying him for €100m and you’re trying to get it down to €60m, you’re trying to get a €15m loan fee down to about €10m.”
United to miss another signing?
With the long-linked Cody Gakpo moving to Liverpool after United failed to act quickly enough, the club could be set to lose out again if they spend too long negotiating with Atletico Madrid over the loan fee.
Arsenal are also interested in Felix, and if United stall over the fee, they may lose out on a target in a priority position if he moves to north London instead.
Although the reported loan fee is high, if it helps United achieve success in the cups and secures a top-four finish, it will pay for itself. Delaying a potential deal until the end of the month to try and save a small amount of the fee could cost the team on the pitch.
Source: thepeoplesperson.com; footballfancast.com
