Man Utd 'accelerate contact' with Arsenal and Liverpool target who is 'a mix between Ozil and Guti'placeholder image
Man Utd 'accelerate contact' with Arsenal and Liverpool target who is 'a mix between Ozil and Guti' | Getty Images
Manchester United are being linked with a young Real Madrid star but Premier League rivals Arsenal and Liverpool are said to be in the mix
Manchester United are one of three Premier League clubs credited with an interest in Real Madrid ace Arda Guler with the Red Devils reportedly making contact with the player.
Liverpool and Arsenal are also linked, according to reports in Spain from Fichajes. The 20-year-old from Turkey joined Madrid in the summer of 2023 and is under contract in the Spanish capital until 2029.
He has made 83 appearances for Madrid since his arrival at the club, scoring 15 goals and providing 18 assists. This season, he has become a more regular starter with 13 of his 16 appearances in La Liga coming in the starting XI.
He has been capped 26 times by his country and could be one of the star’s of the future and already has a big fan in current Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso.
Xabi Alonso has heaped praise on Arda Guler this season
Speaking about the player’s quality, Alonso said back in October ahead of a Champions League game with Juventus: “With his quality, he’s a mix between Özil and Guti. Guti had that vision and finesse to link play or operate closer to goal, and with Mesut I enjoyed football so much. Arda has that something special — that natural talent you can’t teach.
“We have to keep pushing him and supporting him, but we’re very happy with the influence he’s having on our game.”
The former Bayer Leverkusen boss also said: "When I was at Bayer Leverkusen, I wanted Arda Guler to be in my team because he has a special talent. Now that I am coaching Real Madrid, I am happy that he is playing in my team.
“Arda is the future of Real Madrid and one day he will win the Ballon d'Or. His chemistry with Mbappe is getting better every day.”
Will Real Madrid allow Arda Guler to move to the Premier League?
With United and two of their biggest rivals linked to Guler - it does beg the question what do Madrid have to gain from allowing him to leave?
The report from Fichajes claims Madrid will have a big decision to make if a ‘convincing offer’ arrives for the player. The Spanish giants could opt to cash in on the youngster and cash in a big fee to reinvest into their squad.
United are said to view his versatility as a big positive and have ‘accelerated initial contacts’. He can play on the right wing and in attacking midfield. It would add another big threat to Ruben Amorim’s attack. The United boss has shown he is willing to try players in various positions, with Mason Mount playing well in a false nine role in the recent 4-1 win over Wolves.
If Madrid show they are committed to Guler’s development, United and their two Premier League rivals might just have to bide their time. Alonso is under pressure at Madrid and a new manager could see Guler’s importance diminish - Alonso is clearly a huge fan but if he is to leave the club, then his potential successor could be more open to allowing Guler to move on.
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