Manchester United are looking to sign striker from South America, claims reporters

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One of the consistent themes of Manchester United’s approach in the transfer market over the past decade has been a sheer reluctance to sign players directly from South America.

In this time only two have been signed. These are youngster Guillermo Varela, and Facundo Pellistri, both signed from Uruguayan side Penarol, seven years apart.

Neither can be classed as successes. Varela made just 11 appearances, and is now playing for Flamengo in Brazil.

Pellistri has not made a single appearance – although this could soon change. He is part of Erik ten Hag’s squad and hopes to make his debut before heading to the World Cup with Uruguay.

But it would be foolhardy of United to continue to dismiss a whole continent’s talent pool, based on just two attempts.

One of the clubs’ biggest transfer misses in recent seasons was not signing Ecuador international Moises Caicedo, while Julian Alvarez was a player the club passed on last summer.

Now with Erik ten Hag at the helm, Manchester United may be coming around to a change of approach.

While at Ajax, Ten Hag used the South American market effectively, signing Lisandro Martinez from Argentine side Defensa y Justicia and Antony from Brazilian club Sao Paulo. He was so impressed by both of them, he bought them for Manchester United too.

‘Manchester United are looking to sign striker from South America’

A news snippet from Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg reports United are considering the South American market to sign a striker.

It would be a shrewd move if United are able to find a bargain from South America to strengthen the team up front in the January transfer window, regardless of whether Cristiano Ronaldo stays or goes.

United need more competition up front, scoring only 16 goals from 11 Premier League games.

Intriguingly, one striker from the continent has already been linked with a move to Manchester United over the past month.

Italian outlet Calcio Mercato claims United are tracking Santos wonderkid Marcos Leonardo, 19.

This past season the teenager scored 19 goals and provided five assists.

With United’s squad embracing more global feel under Ten Hag, including the recent additions of Brazil internationals Antony and Casemiro, it would not be a surprise to see the club attempt to expand on this during the upcoming transfer windows.