Manchester United made enquiries to sign Club Brugge striker Nicolo Tresoldi last summer, according to Belgian outlet Het Belang van Limburg (page 23).
The Red Devils were linked with multiple centre-forwards during the last transfer window but ultimately a move depended on the departure of Joshua Zirkzee.
With no suitable offers on the table for the Dutchman, United were content to conclude the window without pursuing another striker despite Benjamin Sesko’s fitness concerns.
Het Belang van Limburg now reveal that Brugge turned down a £29 million bid from Roma for Tresoldi, while United also made enquiries for the German ace.
The Belgian champions were quite clear that Tresoldi would stay put for the season.
Brugge’s future valuation has not been revealed, but Florian Plettenberg recently said that they were eyeing around £42m for their prized asset last summer.
United unlikely to pursue winter deal for Tresoldi
Brugge have had good success with three straight Champions League campaigns. This has boosted their finances, making it possible to keep hold of key players.
The club sold Christos Tzolis to Arsenal last summer after deciding to keep him for an extra year, and they plan to do the same with Tresoldi and left-back Joaquin Seys.
Seys was a target for the Red Devils to provide cover for Luke Shaw, but Brugge had a firm stance that the highly-rated Belgian was going nowhere before the deadline.
Based on Plettenberg’s update, Brugge could have sold Tresoldi for £42m, but that valuation is bound to rise in January amid his tremendous start to the 2026/27 season.
The German youth international has already netted 12 goals in just 14 appearances this term. This includes two hat-tricks including one against Inter Milan in Europe.
The 22-year-old has undoubtedly increased his reputation, and Brugge could be prepared to resist offers in January before encouraging a bidding battle when the season ends.
United made an enquiry for him over the summer, but we doubt they will spend big on his services this winter, given he has yet to prove himself in one of Europe’s top-five leagues.
Tresoldi’s performances in Europe are a small sample size, and it would be a gamble to spend big on him, particularly with no pre-season for him to adapt to the league’s physicality.
If the Red Devils were to land a striker this winter, they could focus on signing Crystal Palace star Jean-Philippe Mateta, who is Premier League-proven and in the prime of his career.
Mateta has netted 42 goals in the last three top-flight campaigns. The Frenchman has already opened the door for a winter move to United with his Palace contract expiring next summer.
A new striker arrival would certainly pave the way for Zirkzee’s exit.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com