According to the Italian publication Corriere dello Sport, Manchester United are reportedly leading the race to sign Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat this summer.
The Moroccan star had a noteworthy season in 2022/23 for his club and country. As a result, he is believed to be seeking a new and more significant opportunity outside of Fiorentina, prompting interest from various clubs. However, United appears to be at the forefront of securing his signature.
Amrabat has reportedly expressed his desire to leave Fiorentina, and the club is willing to sell him if their asking price of €30 million (£26m) is met.
According to Corriere dello Sport, United are the front-runner to secure the 26-year-old midfielder’s services. Atletico Madrid are no longer in contention due to financial constraints.
Meanwhile, Barcelona are relying on free transfers to strengthen their squad and may not be able to afford Amrabat’s transfer fee.
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Fiorentina have identified Juventus midfielder Arthur as a potential replacement for Amrabat. However, the Brazilian’s wages may pose a financial challenge for the club.
As an alternative, the Italian club could propose a loan deal for Amrabat with a buy option included.
United have recently made significant signings, including the £55m signing of Mason Mount from Chelsea and an anticipated £43m deal for goalkeeper Andre Onana from Inter Milan.
These signings would amount to a total spending of £98m. With a pre-sales budget of approximately £120m, it is unlikely that United will allocate the remaining funds towards securing Amrabat.
Instead, the club is in need of a young and prominent striker. Atalanta’s Rasmus Hojlund is currently valued at a substantial £86m, presenting a costly alternative for United.
Once Onana’s transfer is complete, the focus may shift towards offloading players like Fred, Dean Henderson, and Anthony Elanga to generate funds to acquire a new number nine.
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Amrabat, who previously worked with manager Erik ten Hag during their time at Utrecht, expressed a desire to reunite with him.
However, acquiring another defensive midfielder is not currently a priority for the Red Devils. The possibility of a deal for Amrabat may arise closer to the end of the transfer window if Scott McTominay departs the club.
At present, it appears unlikely that a deal will be finalized.
