Manchester United are now readying an opening offer for a midfielder who’s a “nightmare to play against”, and he could be brought in as an alternative to West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes.
West Ham playing hardball over Mateus Fernandes
You’d perhaps expect West Ham’s relegation from the Premier League to weaken their negotiating position when it comes to keeping hold of Fernandes, but transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has revealed they are refusing to drop their lofty asking price of £85m.
A deal for the Portuguese midfielder would still be less expensive than signing Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson though, as Evangelos Marinakis is demanding a fixed fee in excess of £120m for the ex-Newcastle United man, who is set to represent England at the World Cup.
In fact, the West Ham maestro is now confident he will be completing a move to Old Trafford this summer, as he has admirers behind the scenes at United, but there will be competition for his signature, with the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea recently opening talks.
Should United miss out on Fernandes for any reason, such as his price tag being too high, or a rival Premier League club swooping in, they will need to sign an alternative, and they are now poised to make a move for a Ligue 1 star.
Man Utd preparing an offer for midfield “nightmare”
According to Foot Mercato journalist Sebastien Denis, RC Lens midfielder Mamadou Sangare has “caught the eye” of Manchester United, and INEOS are now “preparing an offer” to ensure they win the race for his signature, amid widespread interest.
Over a dozen clubs are said to be keen on signing the 23-year-old, but Lens are yet to receive a formal bid, which indicates the Red Devils could be looking to swoop in before anyone else.
Bence Bocsak has suggested the Malian could be a good fit for the Premier League, which bodes well, with the journalist saying: “He’s a decent ball carrier. Has great speed and acceleration both with and without the ball.
“That speed also enables him to press effectively and make frequent interceptions by racing ahead of his opponents to seize a pass intended for them. He’s the type of player who is a nightmare to play against.
“At 23-years-old I think he’s the type of profile who would thrive in the Premier League in the future.”
The African maestro, who rakes in £33,000-a-week at Lens, played a major role in his side securing a second-place finish in Ligue 1 last season, making 29 appearances and chipping in with three goals and four assists.
Sangare also averaged 3.3 tackles per 90 in Ligue 1, which suggests he could be a viable replacement for Casemiro, with the Brazilian averaging 3.1 tackles per 90 in the Premier League last term.
Read next: Man Utd in talks to sign Premier League midfielder alongside Mateus Fernades
He’s a Mainoo clone: Man Utd in talks to sign £100m midfielder
Manchester United’s midfield could be bolstered by a club-record addition.
