Manchester United are reportedly targeting Fiorentina forward Moise Kean this summer should the club miss out on European football next season.
The Red Devils last hope of success in an otherwise dismal campaign lies in the Europa League where victory in the final in Bilbao would give automatic qualification into next year’s Champions League and the array of financial benefits Europe’s elite competition brings.
United face Athletic Club in the second leg of their semi-final tomorrow night at Old Trafford with Ruben Amorim’s side holding a 3-0 advantage from the fist leg in Spain.
On the other side of the draw, Premier League rival Tottenham Hotspur travel to Norway for their second leg against Bodo/Glimt with the Lilywhites 3-1 up on aggregate.
It makes the prospect of an all-English final in the Basque country a likely one, though United have already lost three times to Spurs this season alone.
If the Reds were to prove unsuccessful in their Europa League campaign, the budget at Old Trafford this summer would shift dramatically, given the acute pressure of PSR.
As such, a report by Foot Mercato contends, United have added Kean to their summer wish list as an option should the club “not secure a spot” in the Champions League next season.
Kean, 25, has enjoyed the best season his senior career after emerging as a highly-rated youngster at Juventus. A switch to Everton proved unsuccessful with loan spells at Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus, before a permanent move back to Turin.
The Italian striker then joined Fiorentina last summer in a deal worth a potential €18 million and has not looked back.
Kean has scored 23 goals and provided three assists in 41 games for La Viola. Only Atalanta striker Mateo Retegui has more goals in Serie A this season than the 25-year-old.
As is often the case with young forwards, particularly ones who do not take the best career move, it can take time to mature and hone their talents in the correct way. But when a striker as skilled and skilful, with the potent pairing of pace and physicality that Kean possesses, finally strikes this balance, fireworks can ensue for opposition defences.
Foot Mercato reveals Kean’s contract with Fiorentina contains a release clause worth €50 million (£42.5m). But it is only valid from July 1 to July 15, given prospective suitors a narrow window to strike a deal with the 25-year-old.
The report also lists Victor Osimhen (Napoli), Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting CP) and Liam Delap (Ipswich Town) as targets on this “four name” list for the Reds this summer. But each player is likely to want Champions League football at their next club with both Victors set to cost in excess of £60 million each.
Bayern Munich are also mooted as a potential suitor for Kean but the presence of Kane at the Allianz Arena offers an anagram-style hurdle to first-team minutes for the Fiorentina striker.
At Old Trafford, with the ineffective pairing of Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee standing in his way, Kean would have a much better chance at nailing down the number nine position.
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
