Man United keen on move for “unbelievable warrior”; Ten Hag knows him well
Based on a source, Sofyan Amrabat, who currently plays for Fiorentina, has emerged as one of Manchester United’s primary targets for the summer transfer window. This interest stems from the existing close relationship between the midfielder and Manchester United’s manager, Erik ten Hag.
Man United has already reinforced their midfield by signing Mason Mount on a five-year contract worth £55 million. However, Ten Hag seems determined to further strengthen the team’s midfield options.
Reports suggest that Manchester United is considering a move for Amrabat from Fiorentina. Recent developments indicate that the Italian club is likely to approve his departure this summer, thus opening the door for United to pursue the midfielder. Furthermore, Fiorentina is reportedly close to signing Morten Hjulmand, a Danish midfielder who could potentially replace Amrabat.
Sport Witness, citing a report from Firenze Viola, believes that Amrabat is now a significant target for Manchester United, with the club expected to make an offer in the range of €30 million (£26 million). However, there is competition for his signature, as Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Juventus, and several Saudi Arabian clubs have also been mentioned as potential suitors.
As of now, there has been no concrete communication between the parties involved, and previous claims of an agreement between United and Amrabat’s entourage were deemed false.
Amrabat’s strong relationship with Ten Hag, coupled with his impressive performances at the 2022 World Cup where he featured in all seven matches for Morocco, reaching the semifinals, could give Manchester United an advantage in the race to sign him.
However, there are concerns about Amrabat’s effectiveness. While his pass-completion rate per 90 minutes ranks in the 95th percentile among midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues, he has not been prolific in terms of scoring goals for Fiorentina, and his defensive contributions in terms of tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes are relatively average.
Considering these factors, Manchester United should have reservations about pursuing Amrabat this summer. Instead, it may be wiser for Ten Hag to allocate funds towards strengthening other key positions, especially considering the need for a replacement for the out-of-contract David de Gea.