MAJOR development in Man Utd transfer pursuit
Tom Hancock
- Updated: 15 Aug 2023 16:57 BST
- 3 min read
Manchester United look close to lodging an official bid for Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat.
Erik ten Hag still wants a new defensive midfielder to complement Casemiro – a need which became even clearer in Monday night’s 1-0 Premier League season-opening win over Wolves, where Man Utd showed a concerningly soft centre.
And Amrabat – who helped Morocco to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup – appears to be their number one target to plug that gap.
MORE: Benjamin Pavard BEGS for Man Utd transfer
According to Florence-based newspaper La Nazione, United could make their move today (August 15).
Fiorentina are said to value Amrabat at €25m (£21.4m) – which could well prove to be an absolute bargain.
Man Utd might not have it all their own way, though: Juventus have also been linked with the 26-year-old, who joined Fiorentina from Hellas Verona three years ago for €20m.
However, Juve’s lack of European football this season – after they were banned from UEFA competition due to financial breaches – might just work in United’s favour.
MORE: Premier League 2023/24 summer transfers | All the Done Deals
The new recruits off to a winning start
Two of Man Utd’s summer signings were involved against Wolves at Old Trafford, with Andre Onana – who could himself very fortunate not to concede a penalty after clattering into the visitors’ Sasa Kalajdzic – and Mason Mount both starting.
€75m striker Rasmus Hojlund will have to wait a little longer for his debut as he continues to work his way back to fitness.
Amrabat, meanwhile, has not yet played this term, with new Serie A campaign getting underway this weekend.
The former Club Brugge, Feyenoord and Utrecht man – who was born in the Netherlands to parents of Moroccan descent – has made 107 appearances for Fiorentina, for whom he was on the losing side in last season’s Conference League final against West Ham.
