Man United: Ten Hag could partner Rashford with £21m ‘special talent’
Manchester United appear ready to make an offer for a talented Brazilian striker
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag will be working hard to add one or two more signings to his squad before the transfer window closes next week.
He has so far signed Andre Onana, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund, but with the Champions League return to Old Trafford this season, a little more quality will be needed.
The Dutchman has shown interest in a talented Brazilian striker and could he be willing to make an offer to reinforce his first team?
Will Manchester United sign another contract? According to Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport (via ForzaRoma), United are ready to offer Brazil’s Santos a fee of €25m to secure the signing of Marcos Leonardo before the end of the transfer window.
Serie A club AS Roma are also interested in the forward looking for a possible transfer, but it seems the Red Devils are taking the first steps to bring him to the Premier League. Ten Hag is willing to pay $20 million upfront along with $5 million in add-ons to complete an attack. Given his talent and huge growth potential, it could be a great deal for the club.
Who is Marcos Leonardo? There is no doubt that the Red Devils need goals, because last season the Ten Hag had to count on Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford.
The duo were the only two players to score more than ten goals for the club and if Hojlund is to give them a forward boost, Leonardo could also provide something else.
Since making his debut for Santos in 2020, he has scored 49 goals in 151 games, which equates to around one goal every three games, which is impressive considering his youth. The ‘special talent’ – as South American football pundit Nathan Joyes hailed him – was in stunning form for his club in the 2023 league season, scoring eight goals in just 14 games.
He also ranks first on the team in shots per game (1.1), third in big chances (three) and first in goals and assists (10), suggesting he is clearly the the team’s best offensive player.
Leonardo would form a dream pair with Rashford in United’s attack as the Englishman could provide plenty of chances for the 20-year-old while playing in his preferred position on the left wing.
Last season, Rashford registered 11 assists in all competitions, averaged 0.9 key passes per game and created five big chances in the Premier League.
Moreover, the striker ranked in the top 6% of touches inside the penalty area by 90 (6.33) compared to his position mates, clearly showing how often he put the ball in dangerous areas to score or help deliver a teammate. Leonardo is a talent that will only get better and it seems he is ready for a step forward.
A move to Man Utd, where he could prove himself against the Champions League’s best while vying for trophies at domestic level, could see him transform from a prodigy into potentially one of the continent’s best.
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