Manchester United came under pressure mid-season after news broke that last season’s top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo had given an incendiary interview against the club.
What followed was United mutually agreeing to let the player go, and although Erik ten Hag was happy with the resolution, they were left with one fewer striker in their ranks.
The January transfer window gave the club the chance to bring in a replacement and with only loan deals available to the club, Wout Weghorst walked through Carrington’s doors.
United need a striker next summer
The Red Devils are cognizant of the fact that the Dutch striker is a stopgap at best and are willing to spend big in the summer to sign an elite striker.
Household names such as Harry Kane, Victor Osimhen and Dusan Vlahovic have been linked with a move to Old Trafford in recent weeks.
???? Manchester United are considering signing Ansu Fati in the summer, who is not a guaranteed starter for Barcelona.
(Source: SPORT) pic.twitter.com/jl15gSBMQ1
— News Stream Live (@DeadlineDayLive) February 4, 2023
The latest name to enter the fray is surprising: Barcelona’s Ansu Fati. The 20-year-old has seen his minutes reduced this season under Xavi.
When the 20-year-old burst onto the scene, he was seen by many as the successor to Lionel Messi and was rewarded with the iconic number 10 shirt.
After eight goals in his debut season, much was expected of the striker, but those numbers have slowly dwindled and injuries haven’t helped Fati either.
Fati’s bag has fallen at Barça
This season, the Spain international has managed to score six goals in 30 appearances with just nine starts coming his way.
The Spaniard has seen how Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Ousmane Dembele surpassed him in the pecking order.
And now SPORT have revealed that United are interested in taking over his services if the Catalan giants are willing to negotiate and the player wants to try a new challenge.
The question on everyone’s mind is whether Barcelona will sell Ansu Fati in the summer if Manchester United make an offer and how much they will charge for him.
This is what is happening: pic.twitter.com/2kpRoP4gr6
— The FTBL Index ???? ⚽ (@TheFootballInd) February 3, 2023
The English club is very interested in taking over the services of Ansu Fati for next season as long as the Blaugrana club opens the door to negotiations and the footballer accepts a change of scenery to gain prominence after a year in which he has not just taken out at the Camp Nou.
“United’s interest is already on the table and Barça, for the moment, doesn’t even want to listen, but the coming months could be decisive for what could be one of the summer operations,” the report added.
United could capitalize on Barça’s financial situation
This would not have been the case before, when the club included a €1 billion buyout clause in his contract and it was deemed “unsellable”, but the La Liga giants are in the midst of a serious financial crisis and need to raise money to balance the books.
“Barça is clear that a million-dollar sale will be necessary at the end of the season and there are few footballers who can collect interesting amounts.
Ansu would be, to this day, one of them although there is nothing discussed or planned because Barça will never take the first step in an unwanted exit.
His agent Jorge Mendes has excellent relations with United and is drawing interest as of now as the final decision rests with the club and the player who will wait and see how the situation unfolds.
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