What do Sofyan Amrabat, Mason Mount and Leny Yoro all have in common? Apart from their shared Manchester United connection, of course?
All three players were on the radar of Liverpool before ending up at Old Trafford. Amrabat reportedly held talks with Jurgen Klopp back in 2023 but his heart was set on Manchester United.
It is no secret that Klopp was a big admirer of Mount too. Liverpool, meanwhile, ‘saw a lot of potential’ in Yoro long before he made his first-team debut at Lille – his former coach tells The Athletic – and continued to watch the 18-year-old before his £52 million move to their North West neighbours this summer.
And one of Man United’s alternatives to Manuel Ugarte for the central midfield spot, fittingly, is another player who has found himself on Liverpool’s radar in the recent past.
Manchester United move on from Manuel Ugarte
Reporter Ben Jacobs claims that – in addition to fellow Brazil international Joao Gomes of Wolves – Man United are considering Fluminense’s string-pulling playmaker Andre Trindade.
Now, just last month, Fluminense president Mario Bittencourt went public – and not for the first time – about Liverpool’s own interest in the deep-lying 23-year-old.
Liverpool, Bittencourt tells Radio Itatiaia, ‘have been looking at Andre since last year’. So too have Fulham.
He also informed Globo Esporte that the Anfield giants had submitted a £26 million bid back in 2023. One Fluminense batted away.
Around 12 months later, Man United’s interest throws Andre Trindade back into the limelight. Jacobs believes that Fluminense may now be willing to accept a fee in the region of £30 million these days, with his contract one year closer to it’s expiration date.
As such, Andre is likely to be available for far less than, say, Ugarte, Joao Gomes or Martin Zubimendi.
United have reportedly walked away from discussions with Paris Saint-Germain after deciding that the French champions were simply asking too much for Ugarte; a midfielder already out of favour and falling even further down the pecking order following the £60 million acquisition of Joao Neves from Benfica.
But if United had doubt about Ugarte’s price-tag, then they appear to have ‘reservations’ about Andre too.
Red Devils have concerns over Andre Trindade
Give Me Sport say that the Copa Libertadores winner is seen as representing decent value for money at Old Trafford.
But United have shown reservations about signing Andre in the past – he was linked back in 2023 too – and it remains to be seen if those concerns remain with only one month remaining in the transfer window.
While Ugarte is very much a ball-winner, Andre is more of a ball-progresser. He prefers to pick up the ball deep in his own half and begin attacks with his impressive passing range.
Now, whether United make a move depends on what they want their new number six to be.
Andre may be ideal for a possession-heavy system. But averaging 2.2 tackles per game compared to Ugarte’s 3.9, the young Brazilian may lack the off-the-ball qualities needed from a player expected to hold the fort and provide the freedom for Kobbie Mainoo, Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount to push on.
- READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25
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