Manchester United are reportedly set to step up their pursuit of Alex Sandro by meeting the £50 million price tag slapped by Juventus on the defender.
According to a report by The Times, Manchester United are looking to accelerate their pursuit of Alex Sandro and make him their first signing of the summer transfer window. The Red Devils are ready to pay the £50 million asking price set by Juventus to land the Brazilian defender.
Alex Sandro has seen his stock skyrocket since he joined Juventus from FC Porto in the summer of 2015. Over the last three years, the Brazilian defender has progressed considerably to establish himself as one of the best full-backs in the world, having been a key figure in Turin during this period.
This season, injuries have restricted the player’s appearances, but he has still remained an important player for Massimiliano Allegri, featuring 38 times for Juventus. But, his future at the Allianz Stadium has been under a cloud for several months now, with reports of Sandro angling for a summer move running rampant.
If his performances weren’t enough, the uncertain position has done just enough to pique the interest of clubs further. The front-runners in Alex Sandro’s pursuit though, are Manchester United, who look set to do everything they can to sign a left-back in the summer.
Luke Shaw had been earmarked as the long-term solution on the left side of the defence when he joined Manchester United in the summer of 2014. But, four years post the move, his development has stalled completely, with the Englishman failing to win Jose Mourinho in the last couple of seasons.
Shaw’s struggles have forced the Manchester United manager to field Ashley Young as a makeshift left-back this season, with the likes of Matteo Darmian, Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind filling in as well. While Young has done an admirable job so far, he is only a short-term solution, making Sandro a viable target.
What also makes a possible deal for Sandro a distinctly appealing one for Manchester United is the fact that he has failed to make Brazil’s World Cup squad, which can help them advance their pursuit by contacting Juventus.
Indeed, the report suggests that the Juventus hierarchy expects the deal to be completed this month itself. With Manchester United ready to pay his £50 million asking price, the move can be completed swiftly as Mourinho looks to make the Brazilian defender his first summer signing.
Should Sandro indeed make his way to Old Trafford in the coming weeks, it will be interesting to see if the long-standing problems in the left-back slot at Manchester United disappear.
