Manchester United are back in the running to make a move for Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez. The Argentine forward has been in good form for the Italian club in the 2019-20 season, racking up 16 goals in 31 games for the club.
As per Sport (via Daily Mail), Manchester United and Barcelona are interested in signing the 22-year-old. His current deal with Inter expires in 2023 and his release clause is set at £94 million. Lautaro Martinez has been with Inter since the start of the 2018 season and has scored 26 goals in 66 appearances for them.
The 22-year-old is also an Argentine international, having scored 9 goals in 17 games for his country.
Lautaro Martinez: A smashing move by Ole?
Lautaro Martinez is a quick, skilful and hard-working forward, who is turning out to be a promising goalscorer, while also adding energy to his team’s attack. The Argentine is one of the most promising attackers in world football and has drawn comparisons with compatriot Sergio Aguero. Aguero has become a cult hero at Manchester United’s rivals, Manchester City, and has been one of the Premier League’s best strikers over the last decade tormenting the Red Devils on several occasions.
Martinez could follow in the footsteps of Aguero and make himself a hero in Manchester, on the red half. Manchester United need to spruce up their attack and add a few world-class players if they want to compete with Liverpool and Manchester City at the top of the Premier League. Martinez’s low centre of gravity gives him the ability to move in tight situations, and his burst of pace can also catch out defenders.
He comes alive in the box, averaging 2.7 shots per game from inside the penalty area in Serie A in the 2019-20 season. He also likes to take on defenders with his dribbling, averaging 2.7 dribbles per game in the Italian league.
Manchester United have been crying out for a natural centre forward, which they haven’t had since the departure of Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic while Romelu Lukaku failed to achieve his true potential at the club. Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford have both played in the centre forward position for United, and while both have scored well this season, they are better off in wide areas, cutting into the middle.
Signing Lautaro Martinez would give United a striker who is young, a potent goalscorer, and one that could seriously help United bridge the gap with City and Liverpool while adding depth and freshness to the squad, something Ole is keen on doing.
