Manchester United have joined the race to sign Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi, it has been reported.
It is believed the that Argentine forward is destined for a move away from San Siro in the summer after falling out with the club due to a contract dispute.
As a result, a host of top clubs around Europe have been alerted to Icardi’s situation and according to Mirror, Manchester United are the latest club to join the chase.
Mauro Icardi: A shrewd move by Manchester United
Manchester United are in desperate need of attacking reinforcements in the summer following yet another mediocre campaign from most of their attacking options.
Even though the Red Devils have enjoyed a rich vein of form under interim coach Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer, the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez have failed to deliver, leaving United overly dependent on the services of young Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba in terms of attacking productivity.
And if we consider the wretched form of Lukaku this season, it won’t be surprising to see United shipping him out in the summer transfer window. Thus, Icardi could be a viable target for the Premier League giants as they look to compete with the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool next season.
A product of the famed La Masia youth academy, Icardi is regarded as one of Europe’s most dangerous strikers due to his unerring ability to find the back of the net.
Indeed, the 25-year-old has scored as many as 122 goals in just 210 matches for Inter in all competitions whilst netting over 20 goals in three of his last four seasons. Therefore, he’s certainly a proven goalscorer who can add more bite into the United attack.
However, what makes Icardi such an appealing target for the Red Devils is his hold-up play in the final third as the former Sampdoria forward can cleverly use his body to shield the ball and bring more of his attacking teammates into play.
This could be useful for a United side, who have embraced an attacking brand of football under Solskjaer and though they are yet to decide as to whether or not to stick with the Norwegian, the aim will be to continue in a similar manner or as the locals call it ”the United way”.
At the age of just 25, Icardi certainly has time on his side, meaning he could be an excellent long-term investment for United, who can also benefit from his vast experience at the highest level of football.
Stat courtesy: Transfermarkt