Chelsea vs Man Utd: Romano predicts summer transfer war between Premier League giants

Robin Bairner

• 13 Mar 2024 10:10 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester United and Chelsea could spend the summer battling over the same player, Fabrizio Romano has predicted.

Both clubs are set to take a keen interest in the summer transfer window and are set to be recruiting in similar areas of the field.

Romano has earmarked one position in which the Red Devils and the Blues are set to go head-to-head.

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Although the two teams are both in the market to sign a centre-forward, it is in the left-back area that Romano believes there could be fireworks.

“The feeling is that Chelsea, as well as Man Utd, will be looking at left-backs this summer. And they will probably be looking at similar players - talented young players,” he wrote in the Daily Briefing.

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Transfer plans taking shape

Romano says that Ian Maatsen could be sold by the Blues, who could recoup around €40 million for any deal for their academy graduate.

Chelsea are known to be eager to sell academy products in order to ease their Financial Fair Play position.

Romano has gone into more detail about Manchester United’s ideas for their defence, meanwhile. The idea appears to be to recruit in order to give insurance against injury issues in that part of the field.

“Luke Shaw has had his injury problems this season, and the expectation is that Tyrell Malacia won’t play this season, but in any case, United want to bring in a new left-back this summer,” he says.

“To understand who it’s going to be, we have to wait for the new board structure to become clear in the next weeks, then we’ll see who’s going to be deciding the signings for the summer transfer window.

“Still, they are looking at left-backs as a priority and from what I’m hearing it could be a talented young player in that position, not an older and more experienced player.”