Anderson Talisca is edging closer to a summer move to Manchester United, having signed a pre-contract agreement to make the switch to Old Trafford.
According to Turkish journalist Firat Gunayer, Anderson Talisca is set to join Manchester United in the summer transfer window. The Premier League runners-up have an agreement in place with the Brazilian attacker to sign him from Benfica, who are yet to agree a deal with the Red Devils.
Talisca’s stock has been on the rise ever since he joined Besiktas from Benfica on a two-season long loan deal. During this period, the player has not just been one of the best players in Senol Gunes’s side, but a standout in all of Turkish Super Lig, with 37 goals and 14 assists in 80 appearances for the club.
Indeed, his tally shows that he has considerably improved since joining on-loan from Benfica, for whom he had just 20 goals and 4 assists in 78 outings. It is this improvement that has helped him break into the Brazil National Squad and perhaps, pique the interest of several clubs, with Manchester United believed to be leading the race to sign him.
Manchester United’s pursuit of Talisca isn’t new, having also attempted to sign him last summer, albeit unsuccessfully so. The interest from the Premier League heavyweights does come as a bit of a surprise, since the Brazilian international is an attacking midfielder and primarily operates down the middle.
Indeed, the need of the hour for Manchester United seems to be a winger, who can operate naturally from the right flank, especially with the likes of Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata and even Alexis Sanchez capable of reprising the role of an attacking midfielder.
Perhaps, Talisca is being viewed as a more attack-minded replacement for Marouane Fellaini, who looks set to run down his contract with Manchester United and leave on a free transfer. Regardless, the player seems to be edging closer to a move to Old Trafford, with Gunayer suggesting that he has signed a pre-contract agreement with the Red Devils.
The only thing that’s left in Manchester United’s pursuit of the Brazilian forward is reaching an agreement with Benfica over the transfer. Besiktas also retain the offer of signing Talisca permanently, with a €21 million purchase option in their loan deal, but manager Senol Gunes has made it clear that he has played his last game for the club.
“Talisca was already gone at the mid-season break. I’m sorry that he won’t be with us any longer. I wish he could stay for his sake and ours. He already had a deal in place.”
Manchester United, thus, seem to be in driver’s seat to sign Talisca, and it remains to be seen if their long-standing pursuit of the Brazilian finally bears fruit this summer, or if he ends up moving elsewhere.
