Ruben Amorim, Manager of Manchester United, controls the ball from the technical area as Ernesto Valverde, Head Coach of Athletic Club, looks on during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Semi Final Second Leg match between Manchester United and Athletic Club at Old Trafford on May 08, 2025 in Manchester, England.Ruben Amorim, Manager of Manchester United, controls the ball from the technical area as Ernesto Valverde, Head Coach of Athletic Club, looks on during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Semi Final Second Leg match between Manchester United and Athletic Club at Old Trafford on May 08, 2025 in Manchester, England.
Ruben Amorim, Manager of Manchester United, controls the ball from the technical area as Ernesto Valverde, Head Coach of Athletic Club, looks on during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Semi Final Second Leg match between Manchester United and Athletic Club at Old Trafford on May 08, 2025 in Manchester, England. | Getty Images
Manchester United have been linked with an Athletic Club star - and could use a current player to help get a deal done
The Red Devils head to Bilbao in the coming days as they look to lift the trophy for the second time in their history - and claim a spot in next season’s Champions League.
As things stand, United do not have the financial capacity for a big transfer window and will need to trim their squad to help raise funds for potential incomings. They can afford one or two signings without exits.
Man United could use Victor Musa as makeweight to sign Sancet
Sancet, 25, has scored 17 goals for the Basque outfit this season. United need more goals next season after struggling to find the net this term. Sancet could help fix that problem for Ruben Amorim, who will also need to add a striker during the coming months.
Athletic Club are said to be unwilling to negotiate over Sancet’s exit. He has a contract until the summer of 2032 but does have a release clause worth around £67m. A swap deal with Athletic Club is not straightforward given the side only sign players who are either born in the Basque Country or who have been trained at a Basque club.
United do have one player who meets that criteria in young forward Victor Musa. He is believed to fit the club’s recruitment policy, having been born and raised in Tudela, Spain and spending the first 11 years of his life there before relocating to England in 2017.
Why would Athletic Club want Victor Musa?
At 18, Musa might be eyeing more regular game-time. Striker Chido Obi Martin has see a path into the first team from the club’s academy but further chances for young stars could depend on what players United bring into the club this summer.
Musa may view potential transfer business as a barrier to first-team chances or see it as a way to push himself. Meanwhile, Athletic Club may be ready to offer him a path into their first team and could need to bolster their forward options with star player Nico Williams linked with a move to some of the top clubs in the Premier League and La Liga.
Amorim has given plenty of academy players opportunities at first-team level this season, but that is in part due to him prioritising the club’s Europa League run. Next season, the former Sporting CP could be more inclined to stick with the more senior players - and if United are not in Europe they will have less need to rotate their squad.
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