Snubbed by Paul Pogba, 22, Manchester United are preparing to launch an audacious £74m bid for Paris St. Germain midfielder, Marco Verratti, 23. The Italian is a good friend of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 34, and Jose Mourinho believes this will smooth the way for a successful raid on the French champions.
Italian international Verratti, is missing Euro 2016 after a sports hernia injury which required surgery last month. The hard-working midfielder will be fit in time for pre-season training.
Ibrahimovic and Verratti both celebrated PSG’s Ligue Un title win in Las Vegas and with the Swede set to commit his final playing days to Manchester United by the end of this month, Mourinho is keen to attract the crème of Europe’s young footballers to Old Trafford.
The deal won’t be straightforward. Verratti has been integral to PSG’s success since joining from Pescara in 2012. The Parisians have won four consecutive titles since then and are in no mood to surrender to Manchester United’s advances. With money no issue, the pressures which afflict other clubs do not apply to the Qatari-owned club.
United aren’t willing to be deterred having lost out on Pogba to Real Madrid. If the French international leaves Juventus this summer, he has made it clear to friends that the Spanish capital is his preferred destination.
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