Manchester United’s work in the transfer window has begun at rapid pace but there’s only player who was already at the club last year but his future is uncertain.
Sofyan Amrabat ended last season on a high, playing a crucial role in the team winning the FA Cup after coming on loan from Fiorentina.
The Moroccan found it tough to get going initially but by the end, he looked good value for the loan fee of around £7 million.
United retained an option to purchase him permanently for close to £25 million but it was always doubtful whether they would trigger it, considering he often looked outmatched in the Premier League.
They are yet to trigger that option and for now, Amrabat has returned to Fiorentina while he still prefers a permanent move to Old Trafford. In the meantime, Fiorentina have dropped a big hint on his future.
Latest developments at Fiorentina
Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Amrabat has been left out of Fiorentina’s planning for the upcoming pre-season.
He is not expected to be a part of the squad and the likelihood is that the Serie A side is waiting for certainty over his future.
That is almost certainly going to be a departure, although whether it is to United or some other club remains to be seen. Amrabat showed enough last season to convince fans that he can at least be a capable squad player.
However, in that case, spending £25 million would not be wise so a way of making this deal happen is to let that clause expire and negotiate a new fee with Fiorentina instead.
The Italians would probably be open to discussions too as omitting him from pre-season makes their stance clear on his future, indirectly weakening their hand in negotiations.
A case for signing Sofyan Amrabat
Amrabat has reportedly attracted interest from other Serie A sides as well but with United, it is a case of having already tried the player and knowing him inside out after a year at the club. Therefore, it might make sense for them to complete this no-fuss transfer to supplement the squad.
They are targeting Manuel Ugarte for the defensive midfield spot but if Casemiro leaves, as is expected, and he is followed by Christian Eriksen, United will be short of numbers in midfield.
Mason Mount is arguably a Bruno Fernandes backup more than an out-and-out central midfielder while Scott McTominay is a box-crashing quasi-forward more than a defensive midfielder. Kobbie Mainoo and Ugarte, if he arrives will be the first-choice pairing in midfield but the depth looks thread-thin beyond it.
If a new fee for Amrabat can be negotiated that suits all parties, then he would make a good low-cost addition, the likes of which United have often failed to make in recent times to top up the squad.
Add to it potentially another youngster from the academy, like Dan Gore or Toby Collyer, and United will end up with a well-rounded midfield in terms of both experience and playing profiles.
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