Manchester United are plotting a late swoop for Santos prodigy Marcos Leonardo in their search for more goalscoring options, claims La Gazzetta dello Sport.
The 20-year-old was in sensational form for the Brazilian outfit last term racking up 16 goals and four assists in 32 appearances, and is seen as the man to potentially ease Man United’s goalscoring burden.
The Red Devils have already spent around £165 million to reinforce core areas of their squad this summer, including the centre-forward position, which has been a conundrum for the club over the past few years.
Since Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure, Man United have struggled to recruit a number nine that can provide the goods consistently, but they hope Rasmus Hojlund can rise to the occasion.
The Danish youngster joined from Atalanta over the summer for an initial £64m – an eye-catching fee for a youngster with little top-flight experience.
While his price tag reflects the level of trust the club has in his ability, Man United may have to wait until the international break to see their new star striker in action as he recovers from an injury.
However, they need goals as soon as possible, having scored just once in their opening two Premier League games.
Leonardo has been identified as a possible target, and United are ready to splash the cash again by offering an initial €20m plus €5m in bonuses to wrap up the deal.
The Brazilian prodigy has previously been linked with a move to Old Trafford and is a target for AS Roma, but it remains to be seen if Man United can close the deal with Financial Fair Play (FFP) watching closely.
United are also pursuing a move for Fiorentina defensive midfielder Sofyan Amrabat, and that deal is expected to be finalised before the transfer window closes next week.
Signing Amrabat and Leonardo without crossing FFP lines could be tricky, but Man United still have some deadwood they could sell to raise cash for the potential double swoop.
