Man Utd's Arnautovic interest confirmed
Robin Bairner
- 8 Aug 2022 09:23 BST
- 3 min read
Manchester United’s hunt for a striker has seen them surprisingly turn towards Bologna striker Marko Arnautovic, with the player’s agent all but confirming the bid in comments he made on Sunday.
The Red Devils’ lack of depth in the attack was made clear on Sunday as they slipped to a shock Premier League defeat against Brighton at Old Trafford – the first time they had ever lost to the Seagulls at home.
With Anthony Martial out injured and Cristiano Ronaldo only fit for the bench following a shortened pre-season campaign, they started with a front three of Marcus Rashford, Christian Eriksen and Jadon Sancho.
Related articles
It was only once Ronaldo was introduced in the second half that they experienced a lift, although their consolation in a 2-1 defeat was nevertheless a scrappy own goal.
With the Portuguese still pushing to leave the club, reinforcements are required and it is 33-year-old Arnautovic who could prove a target.
“It’s true that there is an offer from a well-known club. I’m in contact with Bologna to see if a deal can be done,” Danijel Arnautovic, the player’s agent, told Austrian publication Kourier.
Man Utd told Arnautovic move is ‘desperate’
Manchester United are said to have launched a bid worth €9 million for the former West Ham striker, who departed the Premier League in 2019 to go and play in China. He returned to Europe with Bologna last summer and scored a creditable 14 goals in 33 outings in Serie A for the club.
It is a move that has left pundits shocked.
Gary Neville told Sky Sports: “I've got a comment on everything in the world, apart from Manchester United signing Marko Arnautovic. I've got nothing to say.
"We've seen Radamel Falcao, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edison Cavani, Odion Ighalo - desperate, it's a pattern. It's happening time and time again. I don't even get angry or animated about it anymore. I'm not going to comment about it.”
Despite questions over the wisdom of the move, Arnautovic nevertheless looks the likeliest solution to one of Man Utd’s biggest problems this summer.
