Manchester United are seriously considering a move for Atletico Madrid winger Yannick Carrasco as the club’s efforts to back Erik ten Hag with attacking reinforcements this summer. Carrasco has emerged as a somewhat surprising target as United scramble for a new forward in the final two weeks of the transfer window.
According to the Telegraph, the 28-year-old is a serious option to bolster Ten Hag’s ranks, and Atletico are willing to offload him for around £25million. He is the third high-profile Rojiblancos attacker United have been linked with this summer after Matheus Cunha and Joao Felix.
The report claims United are also interested in Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic and Ajax sensation Antony. However, their hopes of reuniting Ten Hag with the Brazilian, 22, are slim, with the Dutch Eredivisie champions bumping up their asking price after already losing key players like Sebastien Haller and Lisandro Martinez from last season’s side.
United’s interest in Carrasco and subsequent talks aren’t connected to Atletico’s links with a move for wantaway superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. Ten Hag is also understood to be eyeing a central striker should an exit materialise for his No 7 before September 1.
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Carrasco has earned 57 caps for Belgium and joined Atletico from AS Monaco in 2015. He has registered 37 goals and 39 assists in 220 appearances for Diego Simeone’s side and is currently in his second spell after leaving for Chinese Super League outfit Dalian Professional for two years in 2018.
Carrasco has recently been an important part of Simeone’s plans at the Wanda Metropolitano, making 30 appearances in the 2020/21 La Liga-winning season before playing 34 times throughout the last league campaign. But Atletico are ready to cash in on his services, and United are in desperate need of attacking firepower.
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If Ronaldo gets his wish and departs this month, Ten Hag would be left with just three established first-team forwards – Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho. Anthony Elanga is still finding his footing after breaking through last term, and Alejandro Garnacho has plenty of development ahead yet.
Carrasco’s arrival would help balance the workload ahead of the hectic fixture list brought on by United’s Europa League return and the winter World Cup in Qatar. It’s a transfer that could start to take shape once Ten Hag’s priority, signing a defensive midfielder, is achieved.
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