Manchester United are ready to ignite a bidding war against Juventus to sign midfield star Mamadou Sangare following their defeat to Leeds on Monday.
Why do Man United want Sangare?
Artemis II travelled to the Moon and back between United's most recent fixtures, with Old Trafford forced to wait for what they hoped would be a worthy occasion. Instead, however, it was Leeds who found themselves shooting for the stars to cause a major upset, centred around Lisandro Martinez's controversial red card.
Alas, whilst it was Martinez who stole the headlines, there was also no hiding for Manuel Ugarte, who struggled to make his mark in a Man United shirt yet again.
The South American, in place of the injured Kobbie Mainoo, showed exactly why the Red Devils are chasing midfield reinforcements this summer.
Ugarte vs Leeds
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In Ugarte, Man United have an incredibly limited midfielder. Out of possession, he is more than capable of stepping into the side. It's in possession that he often struggles and that's far from ideal for a side more likely to have the majority of the ball against Leeds.
If the Red Devils are to step up to consistent Champions League qualification for years to come, then replacing Ugarte should be a top priority.
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Man United were defeated by Leeds at Old Trafford for the first time in 45 years.
On that front, several names have already been mentioned. Sandro Tonali and Elliot Anderson have both threatened to steal the headlines, but United face plenty of competition for both - competition which could lead them to Sangare.
Man Utd ready to ignite bidding war
According to Calcio Mercato in Italy, as relayed by Sport Witness, Man United are now ready to ignite a bidding war to sign Sangare ahead of Juventus this summer.
The RC Lens star has played a key role in his side's shock title race against Paris Saint-Germain, and may have done enough to earn himself a move to Old Trafford in the coming months.
Dubbed "amazing" by talent scout Jacek Kulig back in December, Sangare would be an instant upgrade on Ugarte. The 23-year-old is better in possession than the Man United man and is still effective off the ball.
He wouldn't steal the same headlines as Tonali or Anderson, but the Mali international would solve the Red Devils' growing problem at Old Trafford this summer.
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With interest from both Juventus and Chelsea, however, it remains to be seen whether INEOS push on and sign the midfielder. They're certainly not afraid to splash the cash if needed, potentially sparking a high-profile bidding war.