Manchester United are one of the few Premier League clubs interested in signing Torino star Andrea Belotti in the summer.
Andrea Belotti, 27, has enjoyed another solid campaign with Serie A outfit Torino, registering 12 goals and seven assists in 29 appearances. However, the Italy international is set to enter the final 12 months of his current contract at the Turin-based club. Thus, this summer represents the final and the best opportunity for Torino to cash in on their skipper.
The 27-year-old striker, who has also attracted interest from Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, could be available for a bargain €35m this summer if he refuses to sign a contract extension with Torino. Belotti has a €100m release clause inserted in his contract, but it is only applicable for clubs outside Serie A.
Meanwhile, Manchester United are likely to finish second in the Premier League table behind Manchester City this season. The Red Devils dropped points against Leeds United at Elland Road on Sunday that opened a 10-point gap between them and their cross-town rivals.
Manchester United have improved going forward this term
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer-managed Manchester United are the second-highest scorers in the Premier League having netted 64 goals in 33 games, just five less than Manchester City. They had scored 66 goals in the entire last season, which shows the improvement Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have made going forward.
Bruno Fernandes has been superb in his first full season at Old Trafford, scoring and assisting goals for fun. The Portuguese international’s record of 24 goals and 14 assists in 51 games this term is nothing short of sensational for a midfielder. He is the club’s top scorer ahead of forwards such as Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, Edinson Cavani and Anthony Martial, which demonstrates the value of every penny United spent on him in January 2020.
Rashford has netted 20 goals across all competitions and is on course to better his last season’s tally of 22 goals. Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood’s goal contributions have dropped abruptly, with the former’s season all but over following a knee injury. Since February, Martial has failed to find the back of the net when he bagged a brace in the 9-0 rout of Southampton.
Edinson Cavani, signed on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain last summer, has impressed with his smart movement, work rate, leadership skills and goalscoring ability. He’s been a positive influence on the likes of Rashford and Greenwood, and United are keen to trigger a new 12-month extension. However, the Uruguayan international is interested in returning to South America, with Argentinean club Boca Juniors hopeful of signing him.
Andrea Belotti could be a smashing signing for the Red Devils
With Cavani unlikely to extend his stay at Old Trafford and Martial enduring another injury-hit campaign, Solskjaer must make the signing of a striker one of his top priorities this summer. That being said, a player in the mould of Andrea Belotti would be a smart fit at United.
Belotti has scored 104 goals in 223 appearances for Torino, thus proving that he knows where the back of the net is. The Italian’s scoring rate in Serie A is impressive, and at 27, he’s already in the prime stages of his career. The Torino star could prove to be a sensational signing for the Red Devils for years to come if he quickly adapts to the rigours of Premier League football.
Thus, United must definitely attempt to sign Belotti to bolster their forward department ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.