Manchester United’s search for a top offensive talent has stretched far and wide. Most of the names linked with United have been high profile players like Antoine Griezmann, James Rodriguez, and Kylian Mbappe. Now, it appears that the club are ready to go in search of players, who are yet to be hunted by other top clubs. Porto winger Yacine Brahimi has now become the latest transfer target for Manchester United, according to The Mail.
The Algerian international was heavily linked with Liverpool and Arsenal only last summer, but Porto managed to retain him. The Portuguese outfit even managed to insert a £51 million release clause in his contract. Unlike Kylian Mbappe, Brahimi is not a prodigious young talent. Instead, he is a well-established European player who has been around for quite a while. At 27 years of age, he will be able to provide an instant solution for Manchester United’s offensive crisis. The Red Devils are set to lose Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the summer.
Mbappe would be the number one choice for the club, but it appears that Real Madrid are favourites for his signature. United have already failed in a £72 million offer for the 18-year-old, and they are unwilling to go up any higher.
Despite signing a new contract only recently, Brahimi maybe on the transfer market sooner than expected. One of the primary reasons for Porto giving the player a new contract was to increase his transfer value. Now, his existing deal runs out in June 2019, giving Porto plenty of time to analyse each offer as it comes.
Brahimi moved to Porto from Granada for around £5 million only in 2014. Following an impressive first season at the club, in which he scored 12 goals in 42 appearances, he has been constantly linked with a move. This season, he has scored just five goals in 20 appearances, but these are good numbers for a winger.
As several question marks exist about Anthony Martial, United may see Brahimi has an ideal addition to the squad. The winger is also capable of playing as an attacking midfielder, and Jose Mourinho is always a fan of versatile players.
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