There is news this week on one of Manchester United’s top midfield targets that could have a significant impact on the club’s January transfer business.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is now blessed with a good roster of attack-minded options in the centre of the park, but the only specialist holding midfielder in the squad is Nemanja Matic, who is entering the twilight of his career at 32 years of age.
One player widely reported to be on Solskjaer’s shopping list to replace the Serbian is the gifted French prodigy Eduardo Camavinga.
Camavinga, who has played 55 games for French side Rennes despite only just turning 18 years of age, is one of the most sought-after youngsters in the game, with Real Madrid in particular being among the chasing pack.
Real see the Frenchman as a younger and cheaper option to compatriot and long-term target Paul Pogba, but their player’s popularity has not gone unnoticed at Rennes, who have been talking in terms of a €80 million (£71m) transfer fee – a heady figure for such a young player.
However, Camavinga has not started 2020/21 as well as he ended 2019/20 and has so far failed to reach agreement over a new contract at the French side.
He is also in the process of sacking his agent Moussa Sissoko, according to Rennes’ sporting director Flaurian Maurice.
With his contract expiring in June 2022, this has left Rennes scrambling and reports say they have now slashed the asking price down to just €45 million (£40m).
‘Camavinga’s father, who is also mulling over handling his son’s affairs himself, now has a host of top representatives lining up to offer their services to him, with the management companies run by super-agents Jonathan Barnett, Jorge Mendes, Pini Zahavi and Mino Raiola all in the shake-up,’ says AS.
‘Meanwhile, Sissoko is thought to be attempting to reach an agreement with a new club as soon as possible … in what could well be his final service to the player’.
It is believed that Sissoko is trying to get the deal with Real Madrid done, but los Blancos are being extremely cautious in the transfer market at the moment as they struggle to deal with the financial impact of Covid-19.
Their top transfer target is Kylian Mbappe and it is unlikely they would even shell out €45 million for Camavinga whilst trying to raise funds for the world’s most expensive player.
This could leave United in the box seat for an early Camavinga deal and an approach in January on or around that discounted fee might prove to be a shrewd piece of business for the Old Trafford side.
United have had some world class goalkeepers over the years and some entertaining ones too. Take our quiz below to find out how much you know about United’s number 1’s, past and present.