United ready to splurge €80m on in-demand Spanish maestro with 17 goals to his name last season – report

Manchester United are among the clubs queuing up to lure Oihan Sancet away from Bilbao.

Sancet has emerged as one of Athletic Club’s most prolific players in recent years, having made his senior debut for the Basque outfit in 2019.

The Spain international is tied to the club until the summer of 2032. However, the attacking midfielder’s consistent output is starting to attract interest from some of the biggest clubs in Europe.

Athletic’s very own Scott McTominay

Standing at 6ft 2in, the Spaniard has a similar physical frame to Scott McTominay. Akin to the Scotland international, the 25-year-old offers a genuine goal threat from midfield, owing to his aerial prowess, real striker’s finish and ability to find space in and around the penalty area.

Despite signing a number of attacking midfielders in recent windows, United have missed McTominay’s presence in the final third, especially when chasing games. 

Sancet has become a focal point of Ernesto Valverde’s attack, having notched an impressive 17 goals in all competitions last term.

Man United want to sign Sancet

Athletic are known to be reluctant to lose their Basque prodigies and are always quick to point towards their respective release clauses.

However, Sancet’s suitors are not put off by his €80 million price tag, suggests a report in Spain.

According to Fichajes, four Premier League clubs, including United, are keen on signing the Athletic star.

It is claimed United, Arsenal, Aston Villa, and Tottenham Hotspur have all “expressed interest” in securing his signing in 2026.

Despite the Red Devils’ struggles under Ruben Amorim, Ineos continue to back their head coach and are prepared to add more firepower to his ranks.

It is believed United have been “closely monitoring” Sancet’s progress and consider him an ideal fit for Amorim’s setup.

Feature image Alex Caparros via Getty Images

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