Manchester United are braced for a battle to sign Hoffenheim winger Bazoumana Touré, with four Premier League rivals also vying for his signature, according to a new report from Germany.
Reinforcements Out Wide
The Red Devils are prioritising a revamp in midfield this summer. Two big-money signings are expected to arrive at Old Trafford, while a third will join them if Manuel Ugarte is sold.
But the club are also on the hunt for reinforcements on the left-hand side – whether at fullback or on the wing. The long-term position of Patrick Dorgu may influence this decision, with the 21-year-old Dane having been redeployed further forward by Michael Carrick.
If United do decide to add a new left-winger to their ranks, the leading targets are RB Leipzig sensation Yan Diomande or Aston Villa and England magician Morgan Rogers.
Either player is expected to cost the best part of £100 million, however. And the budget is unlikely to stretch this far if the bulk has already been invested in midfield.
This means cheaper alternatives are under consideration, such as Touré, who has enjoyed a superb season in the Bundesliga with five goals and 12 assists in 29 Bundesliga appearances. Hoffenheim are understood to be asking for a fee in the range of £45m for their prized asset, around half the outlay needed for United’s first-choice options.
But they are not alone in their admiration of the Ivory Coast international, who played alongside Amad at the Africa Cup of Nations over Christmas.
Four-Way Battle
German outlet Fussball Daten reveals Arsenal and Liverpool are hot on Touré’s tails, with both clubs having already made advances to strike a deal. But the report also states Aston Villa and Brentford have now joined the race for the 19-year-old as well.
Bayern Munich are another admirer of the winger, nicknamed ‘The Hurricane’ due to his ferocious speed, having clocked in as the fastest player in the Bundesliga this season.
Hoffenheim are reluctantly open to a sale this summer, provided their asking price is met. Die Kraichgauer are currently fifth in the table, level on points with fourth-placed Stuttgart.
If they are able to leapfrog their rivals on the final day of the season and secure Champions League football in the process, their negotiating position will be strengthened. A club-record sale is expected as the current one stands at the £38m Newcastle paid for Joelinton in 2019.
Final Thoughts
Sources in Germany describe Touré as the “breakthrough star of the season”, while some analysts believe his potential is so high that he may develop into a Ballon d’Or contender one day. INEOS are understood to consider him a “missing piece” of the attacking puzzle at Old Trafford, with Carrick’s squad lacking an out-and-out winger on the left – a dribbling demon to complement Amad on the opposite flank.
Touré offers a high-upside option at a price point of £45m that enables bigger sums to be invested elsewhere on the pitch, while still securing one of the most exciting attacking prospects in European football.
Featured image by Alex Grimm via Getty Images
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