Manchester United’s pursuit of Eduardo Camavinga could end up being a landmark moment.
Fabrizio Romano reports Rennes are willing to consider a sale for just £25.7 million.
On top of a sensibly priced deal for Jadon Sancho too, United appear to finally be looking at spending time pursuing sensibly priced targets.
A lot has changed from two years ago. United were strongly linked with Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff, who was outrageously valued at £50 million.
It was July 11 2019 when The Telegraph reported United were ‘stunned’ by Newcastle’s £50 million valuation of the player.
This came after a month of reports claiming United were monitoring the midfielder and considering making an offer.
Needless to say United eventually abandoned this pursuit, but there were no alternatives lined up.
The Red Devils ended the summer without signing a defensive midfielder, and two years on, we are still waiting.
Now Longstaff clearly would have been the wrong choice, even at half the price. His career has regressed instead of kicking on, and even with just one year left on his Newcastle contract, there is no longer any interest from Old Trafford, or any high profile suitors.
Value
At half the asking price of Newcastle’s demands for Longstaff, Camavinga is incredible value. Especially when you consider he is already a better player, with far higher potential.
It shows how United have changed, from scouting, to a willingness to look abroad for top deals from across Europe, when in 2019 United’s transfer pursuits were focused on Premier League based players.
Solskjaer wanted to re-mould his squad back then, and a British core was key to what he wanted to achieve. He has that now, and the club’s recruiters are spreading their wings again.
Camavinga is among the best young talents in Europe, with more than 80 first team games under his belt at just 18.
If the Longstaff pursuit represented the nadir of United’s worst transfer pursuits, moving for Camavinga could end up being the best. Hopefully we get him, at least we are chasing the right player this time.
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